Shanshu is a traditional folk art characterized by solo storytelling and singing with group responses. As a form of narrative folk literature, its simple structure makes it highly accessible and easy to pass down through generations. Thus, it gained rapid popularity and has evolved into a contemporary form of storytelling and singing.
"Respecting the elderly and caring for the young comes first. Today, let me tell you a story. My parents worked hard to raise me, and I will tell you how I grew up. When I turned one, my mother helped me stand upright, with dignity and poise. When I turned three, she worried that I might wander near cliffs or water..." At 83, Huang Huaqing still performs Shanshu with great passion at the local marketplace. He was born into a farming family, and his grandfather took up the art as a teenager. Since then, the Huang family has passed down the art of Shanshu from generation to generation. Having grown up immersed in these rhythmic tales, Huang developed a deep interest in Shanshu from an early age.
Huang Huaqing printed a booklet of Shuanghuai Shanshu works and distributes it for free as part of his efforts to preserve and pass down the folk art.
Despite dwindling audiences and funding shortages, Huang Huaqing has never wavered in his commitment to Shanshu. He keeps performing wherever his neighbors gather—in fields and along villages—and even has Shanshu booklets printed at his own expense, distributing them for free. As the fourth-generation inheritor of Shuanghuai Shanshu, he strives to revitalize this folk art, so that more people can learn from the traditional virtues it conveys.
For decades, Huang Huaqing has devoted himself to studying the art, breathing new life into tradition by developing Shuanghuai Shanshu from a conventional oral art into a multifaceted cultural activity that combines public outreach, performance, and education. By incorporating content related to farmers from the report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China into his verses, he has anchored this traditional art in the present day, giving it a distinct contemporary resonance. At the same time, he has actively cultivated a new generation of inheritors, selflessly passing down his skills to younger generations, injecting new energy into the inheritance and development of Shanshu.
Huang Huaqing has demonstrated his love for and commitment to intangible cultural heritage through a lifetime of dedication. His dedication continues to inspire efforts to preserve and pass on traditional culture. The soul of Shuanghuai and the heart of Huaqing—this veteran artist’s dedication will remain part of the continuing story of Shuanghuai Shanshu.
Chinese script: Luo Yuting
Tutored by: Tang Min
Translation: Long Xinyu
Tutored by: Lu Siying, Jiang Jun