Cradle of Folk Arts

Folk art is not only an integral part of the culture of Tianjin, but also a distinctive name card of Tianjin. Many varieties of folk arts have originated, evolved, developed and matured in Tianjin. Even the varieties that originated elsewhere have undergone development in Tianjin forming various schools, such as Meihua Dagu, Xihe Dagu, Danxian, Xiangsheng, Pingshu, etc.

Some folk arts, such as Jingyun Dagu, Jingdong Dagu, Tiepian Dagu, and Kuaibanshu, adopted their present names and were accepted by the audience in Tianjin, though their antecedents were popular elsewhere.

The local arts of Tianjin, such as Tianjin Shidiao, Tianjin Kuaiban, Xichengban, and Dalei Laxi, are popular among fans of folk arts at home and abroad.

The folk arts in Tianjin are of wide varieties, with eminent masters in different generations. The outstanding masters of folk arts include Zhang Shouchen (Xiangsheng), Ma Sanli (Xiangsheng), Luo Yusheng (Jingyun Dagu), Wang Yubao (Shidiao), Hua Sibao (Meihua Dagu), Liu Wenbin (Jingdong Dagu), Dong Xiangkun (Jingdong Dagu), Li Runjie (Kuaibanshu). As founders or representative figures of schools of folk arts, they have made significant contribution to the development and inheritance of Tianjin folk arts.

Many folk artists established their reputation on the stages of Tianjin, such as Liu Baoquan (Jingyun Dagu), Jin Wanchang (Meihua Dagu), Rong Jianchen (Danxian), Qiao Qingxiu (Zhuizi), Hou Baolin (Xiangsheng), etc. After the founding of the PRC, a large number of folk artists were cultivated, and some of them are still performing on stage today. In 1986, China Northern Folk Arts School was founded in Tianjin, the first secondary school of folk arts with the objective of cultivating folk arts performers and authors. A large number of graduates from this school are well-known in China, winning extensive applause from the audience.

Apart from outstanding professional researchers and creators of folk arts, Tianjin also boasts discerning audiences, numerous performance venues and active amateur folk art troupes. Some folk arts on verge of extinction have been passed on to younger generations, and their performances are warmly welcome by the audience.

To promote the development of folk arts, Jingdong Dagu and Tianjin Shidiao have been listed as state-level intangible cultural heritage; Xiangsheng, Jingyun Dagu (Luo’s School), Kuaibanshu (Li’s School), Dalei Laxi have been listed as intangible cultural heritage of Tianjin. All this brings vitality to the development of folk arts of Tianjin.