Beijing, 5 May (ZXS) -- Topic: The "Resurrection" of the Eastern Han Rap Figurines: Conveying the joy of more than 30,<> years

China News Agency reporter Ying Ni

China already had "rap" during the Eastern Han Dynasty?

Unearthed in 1957 in Chengdu, Sichuan, the Eastern Han Drumming Rap Figurine stands straight at the waist, stomps and raises the mallet, with a funny expression stacked with folds on its face, and a smile almost rippling out of it, as if people will hear laughter in the next second.

Eastern Han Drumming Rap Figurines (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of China)

This Eastern Han drumming rap figurine shows exactly what Haiyou performed rap about 2000,<> years ago. Today, this star artifact, which represents the earliest form of rap in Chinese culture and reflects the original form of opera and opera, is displayed in the National Museum of China.

Recently, the first original cultural relics activation stage play "Shengshi Huansong" jointly produced by Guobo and Communication University of China made the Eastern Han Dynasty drumming and rap figurines travel through thousands of years and "live" on today's stage.

"When I walked up to the drumming rap figurine, I was immediately attracted to its vivid image." Yang Yang, director of the play and deputy director of the acting department of Communication University of China, said that it has a vivid smile, as if it has crossed thousands of years with a full story; It is a big star of the National Expo, and it is also widely known because it appeared in middle school history textbooks and has its own traffic, and in the case of this coexistence of strength and traffic, everyone immediately decided to use the drumming rap figurine as the first "activated" national treasure.

Eastern Han dynasty drumming rap figurines. (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of China)

According to records, from the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Shu Han Dynasty, it was the peak period of the development of ceramic and plastic art in Sichuan, and the figurines were mostly "molded", and after being fired in the kiln, white powder was coated on the surface and painted with colored ink. This drum rap figurine was also originally painted and peeled off when it was unearthed. Unlike other tombs, which are accompanied by many carriages and horses, guards, etc., in many tombs excavated in Sichuan, there are mostly figurines dedicated to "entertainment" such as drumming and rapping figurines.

During the Han Dynasty, Haiyou usually sang while drumming, gagging, setting the atmosphere, and was also good at singing and dancing. According to the Guobo monograph, Haiyou appeared in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and was especially popular during the Qin and Han dynasties.

A piece of the Eastern Han Dynasty "Guanqi Portrait Brick" in the collection of the National Museum, also unearthed in Chengdu, Sichuan, vividly portrays a hundred opera performances at the rich family banquet: dancing pills, dancing swords, making bottles, the maid holding a long scarf looking back and waving the scarf, and the musician holding a mallet to fight... The demeanor is witty, the romance is exaggerated, and the scene is warm. In the stage play "Prosperous Song", the Han Dynasty Pan Inspiration, Jiao Jiao Opera, and Lefu Ancient Words "Women's Sickness" are all reflected.

Stage play "Happy Song" (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of China)

In addition to entertainment, the storyline of Haiyo's performance is often thought-provoking. The historian Sima Qian had a high opinion of Hai You, and in his "Shiji" he devoted the "Funny Series" to record the deeds of such funny figures as Qi Guochun Yu Yu, Chu Guo Youmeng, and Qin Chao Youxuan, and praised him as "talking in small words, can also resolve disputes".

"Song of the Happy Age" captures the most distinctive feature of rap figurines - fun and joy, no matter how personal experiences rise and fall, always maintain an optimistic attitude towards life and bring happiness to the audience. In the play, from the dazzling city drama to the fierce debate in the court sitting in danger, I see the witty and humorous and intelligent and optimistic Haiyou sometimes singing highly, and sometimes humorous dialogue. The fusion of traditional juggling, rap and opera arts with modern drama, opera, dance and other arts attracted applause and laughter from the audience.

Stage play "Happy Song" (Photo courtesy of the National Museum of China)

"Let cultural relics come alive, history come alive, culture come alive, and use stage images to let the audience know more about the fine cultural relics in the museum's collection and understand Chinese civilization." According to Yang Fan, Secretary of the Party Committee of the National Museum of China, in recent years, the museum has focused on promoting the revitalization of cultural relics in its collection, and developed cultural relics activation stage plays through cross-border integration. After polishing, "Shengshi Huansong" is expected to become a resident play of the National Expo. (End)