Right line
More than 20 teachers and students from a Norwegian high school were introduced to the intangible cultural heritage of Yangzhou through a captivating cultural showcase presented by the Yangzhou Quyi Research Institute on March 16.
The audience was first enchanted by the melodies of Gu Shi Li De Yangzhou (Yangzhou in ancient poems), a classic piece of Yangzhou Ditty (an ancient type of folk music), which brought to life the gentle charm of the Jiangnan water town.
A male student takes part in a Yangzhou Ditty performance. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
Then a rod puppetry show titled Zheng Banqiao Painting a Picture wowed the crowd. Under the puppeteers' masterful manipulation, the puppet "painted" bamboo on stage, recreating the artistic essence of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) painter Zheng Xie, commonly known as Zheng Banqiao.
Norwegian youth try their hands at operating rod puppets. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
"Incredible! The puppet seems come alive as its eyes move, and it could actually paint," one Norwegian youngster marveled.
Another standout was the Yangzhou pinghua (storytelling) performance titled Emperor Qianlong's Night Talk by the White Tower. Legend has it that during a night tour to the picturesque Slender West Lake, Emperor Qianlong (1735-96) of the Qing Dynasty was amazed to learn that the 27.5-meter White Pagoda located here was built overnight by a salt merchant.
"Although I don't understand the Yangzhou dialect, I can grasp the story's essence through the performer's tone of voice and body language," Elizabeth said.
These immersive cultural displays fostered a multinational cultural dialogue, allowing the students to feel as if they were conversing with the characters in the stories and giving them a deeper understanding of classical Chinese literature.
Norwegian students take a group photo with performers. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
