In September 2000, I received an invitation from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to teach in Beijing. My host invited me to a “Face and Voice” performance one evening.
Xiangsheng (相声, literally translated as ‘face and voice’) is a traditional performing art in Chinese comedy expressing popular elements in Chinese culture. It is also commonly known as crosstalk – typically performed as a comic dialogue between two performers (similar to stand-up comedy in Western culture).
The Xiangsheng language, rich in puns and allusions, is delivered in a rapid, bantering style, typically in the Beijing dialect (Mandarin Chinese with a strong northern accent). The acts would sometimes include singing, Chinese rapping, and musical instruments.
Xiangsheng originated in the mid-1800s during the late Qing Dynasty (although its roots could be traced back to the Ming Dynasty). It began as a street performance with solid elements of joke-telling, comedic banter, and imitations. The purpose is to make the audience laugh. By the early days of the 20th century, street art had moved into teahouses and theatres.
The popularity of Xiangsheng (with its roots as a relatively low-class street performing art) further increased following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. As Xiangsheng was conducted in Mandarin Chinese, it became a valuable tool for further promotion of the use of Mandarin Chinese throughout China.
Xiangsheng had a hard time in the 1990s (following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests). This situation was due to the official sensitivity towards political/social satires and the lack of performance venues outside the state-run television programmes. However, many performers started a return to performing Xiangsheng in traditional teahouses and small theatres. It was during this period that I attended my first Xiangsheng performance.
Today, Xiangsheng is alive and well!
Vince
Dr Vincent Chong is a retired Professor of Radiology at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
