Copper coin clapper is one of the traditional folk art forms. It came into being in Chengdu and Chongqing in late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, became popular in the early 20th century, entered a new era of development after the founding of the People's Republic of China, continued to innovate during the Cultural Revolution period, reached a climax in the 1970s and 1980s and still prospers nowadays.

The props of its performance are three small portable bamboo clappers with copper coins in the middle. The bumping sound of the copper coins can be heard except that of the bamboo clappers during the performance. Later, in order to make production more simple and convenient, copper coins were removed, so only three small bamboo clappers remained.

The copper coin clapper is a kind of traditional rap performed by one or multiple performers, who beat, sing and perform. Performers hold three bamboo clappers in each hand, rhythmically beat them to make the basic sounds of “di, da, Kua” and other various sounds, so as to create a joyful atmosphere. Interesting rap and fluent tune are dynamically integrated during the singing. The performance also requires vivid and expressive bodily movement.

Like other art forms, the copper coin clapper in Chongqing is impacted by diversified culture and art that its performance teams are merged or dissolved, the performance market is shrinking and audiences are losing interest. Now it is caught in a predicament of lacking successors and near-extinction.

In May 2011, the State Council of the P.R.C. approved including copper coin clapper in the extension part of the list of the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage.

Municipal-level representative inheritors: Gu Feng, Li Guozhong, Ding Changfu, Pang Demao, He Daike, Jiang Zeguang