Full Name Shan Chuanzhong Nationality Chinese | Occupation Pingshu performer Name Shan Tianfang | |
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Home town Laishui (Chinese: 涞水), Hebei Province, China Spouse(s) Wang Quangui (王全桂 pinyin: Wang Quangui) | ||
Remembering Shan Tianfang, China’s most prominent storytelling artist
Shan Tianfang (Chinese: 单田芳; born 6 December 1935) is the stage name of the famous Chinese pingshu performer Shan Chuanzhong (Chinese: 单传忠), who comes from Laishui County, Hebei Province (according to some sources: Deping, Shandong Province), China. He was born in Xishi District, Yingkou, Liaoning Province on 6 December 1935 (the 11th day of the 11th month according to Chinese Lunar Calendar). He is a member of the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage inheritors, a member of Chinese Ballad Singers Association and a member of China Society for Literature Popular Research. His language in pingshu performances is relatively plain, and he is specialized in presenting the images, the colors, and the emotions with sounds. Since the mid-1990s, his storytelling video shows have been broadcast on TV stations like CCTV.
Contents
- Remembering Shan Tianfang Chinas most prominent storytelling artist
- Chinese Pingshu performer Shan Tianfang Died at 82
- Early years
- Ten years during the Cultural Revolution
- Return to the stage
- Recent developments
- Brief introduction to his works
- Influences
- Famous quotes
- Family
- References
Chinese Pingshu performer Shan Tianfang Died at 82
Early years
In the 1950s, Shan's father was wrongly put into prison, thus his mother divorced his father. In 1953, he was accepted into Northeastern Engineering College. Due to physical conditions and family problems, however, he gave up his study and turned to perform pingshu, as a prentice of Li Qinghai (Chinese 李庆海). In 1955, Shan entered the Anshan Quyi Tuan, where he was instructed by Zhao Yufeng (Chinese：赵玉峰), a famous Xihe Dagu performer, and Yang Tianrong (Chinese: 杨田荣), a famous pingshu performer. At 24, Shan officially went on stage. He performed not only traditional pingshu, but new works as well.
Ten years during the Cultural Revolution
During the Cultural Revolution, Shan was persecuted for some comments he had made, and once he even got his teeth kicked by the rebel groups.
Return to the stage
After the Cultural Revolution ended, Shan was able of returning to the stage to perform pingshu. He started from the Anshan Radio Broadcast Station. Gradually, he was received by the pingshu fans across the country and became one of the best experts in storytelling.
Recent developments
After his retirement, Shan continued to develop his pingshu career and established Beijing Shan Tianfang Culture and Art Dissemination Co., Ltd., in which he is chairman of the board.
Brief introduction to his works
His other representative works include The Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasty, Xue Jia Jiang (literally Generals of the Xue Family), Three Heroes and Three Swordsmen, Heroes in a Troubled Time (The Legend of Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang ), Xue Gang Rebels Against the Tang Dynasty, Sanxia Wuyi (literally The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants, Wuxia) and The Biography of Tong Lin.
Influences
"Where there is a radio, there is Shan's storytelling." Throughout the art career, he has a collection of over 100 works, which have been broadcast on 500 radio and TV stations and have influenced several generations in China. Since Shan Tianfang earns a high reputation and has a unique voice, which is often imitated.
Famous quotes
Family
Shan Tianfang originates from a family of quyi. His grandfather, Wang Fuyi (Chinese: 王福义), was one of the earliest old artists who, performing bamboo clapper tale, went to Shenyang during the period of Chuang Guandong(literally "crashing into Guandong"). His mother, Wang Xianggui (Chinese: 王香桂), whose stage name was Bai Yatou (literally "the pale girl"), was a famous performer of Xihe Dagu in the 1930s and 1940s. His father, Shan Yongkui (Chinese:单永魁), was an artist of string instrument. His oldest uncle Shan Yongsheng (Chinese:单永生) and third younger uncle Shan Yonghuai (Chinese:单永槐) were respectively the performer of Xihe Dagu and of storytelling. His wife, Wang Quangui (Chinese:王全桂), is eight years older than him.