Chinese acrobatics are a favorite art of the Chinese people, with a distinct style evolving from everyday life and work. Despite the advent of dazzling film shows and song-and-dance performances, acrobatics now still shines as one of the brightest stars in Chinese culture. With about 2,500 years of history, Chinese acrobatics have won he nation the title of "Kingdom of Acrobatics."

Historical records and ancient relics, including carvings on tombs, stone and brick carvings, murals in temples and grottoes, and decorative patterns on utensils, show that Chinese acrobatics originated in the period of the Warring States (475-221 BC).

During the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC-AD 220), artists developed a wide repertoire and acrobatics was thus called "the show of a hundred tricks." By the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), acrobatics had become high art.

Zhang Heng, a great man of letters in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), wrote about a number of exciting acrobatic acts and magic shows, including "Balancing on a high pole,
"Jumping through hoops," "Hand feats," "Rope walking," "Turning of a fish into a dragon," "Swallowing knives and spitting fire" and "Drawing a line off the ground and it becomes a river."

All these illustrate the triumph of ancient Chinese acrobatics. From then on, a variety of acrobatic performances such as traditional conjuring, vocal imitation, taming animals and horsemanship have been described in books and historical relics. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, thanks to the principle of "letting a hundred flowers blossom and weeding through the old to bring forth the new," Chinese acrobatics have developed rapidly. Many new programmes have been created, collated or transplanted. As musical accompaniment, costumes, props and lighting have been improved, acrobatics have become a comprehensive stage art, performed by more than 100 troupes throughout China. A large number of young performers have been trained. The repertoire numbers more than 200 items. In October 1981, China Acrobatic Arts Association was established, launching Acrobatics and Magic, the first magazine on acrobatics in China.

Acrobatics have played an important role in cultural exchanges between China and other nations. For 40 years, Chinese acrobatic troupes have toured to warm applause in more than 100 countries and regions throughout the world.

Since 1982, Chinese acrobats have taken part in 13 international competitions and won 23 gold medals. In that year, China entered the Circus of Tomorrow Festival for the first time in Paris and since then Chinese acrobats have won the Award of the President of France Five consecutive times.

Apart from the international competitions, where Chinese acrobats often give breathtaking performances, people can still enjoy the art in many places in the country. In Beijing, for instance, people often go to Chaoyang Theatre in eastern Beijing, and the International Club near the major embassy area to watch wonderful performances by the China Acrobatic Troupe, the largest State-run acrobatic troupe in the country. Erqi Theatre in western Beijing is a place where people can watch performances by the Railway Acrobatic Troupe, one of the major troupes in the country.

For those who want to go deep into the history of Chinese acrobatics and see authentic fold acrobatics, Wuqiao County in Hebei Province is the place. Actually, Wuqiao County is generally regarded as the cradle of Chinese acrobatics. It is said that many acrobatic troupes in the world owe a debt of gratitude to this county. Wuqiao has even been called a synonym for Chinese acrobatics. And China has sponsored two international acrobatics festivals - China Wuqiao International Acrobatic Festival - named after this acrobatic Mecca.

-- by Ma Jianguo

A Brief Introduction to Acrobatic Art Programme

Lion Dance
This dance has evolved from an old folk dance in China. Thanks to the adaptation of the acrobats, it has become a very popular number with the audience.

There are two types of lions: big lion (played by two acrobats) and small lion (played by one man). They not only perform the various movements of the lion, rolling and jumping but also vividly portray the lion's strength and agility, and the quiet and playful side of the lion's character as well. Accompanied by the rhythmic Chinese traditional percussion instruments, it brings out a gay and festive atmosphere, vivid and jubilant.

Cycling Feats
In this act two types of cycles are used: monocycles on which the acrobats, with the light gestures of the dance, adroitly perform various beautiful postures; and bicycle apart or turning it over a table, etc; also they display a variety of postures on the bicycle, of which the beautiful tableau of a peacock fanning its feathers is the best.

Tight-Wire Feats
Known as "Rope-Walking" or "Walking on a rope" in ancient China, it is a traditional number recorded with vivid portrayal in the Han Dynasty two thousand years ago. Walking on a wire instead of a rope is a renovation imparting new vigour and skills.

The acrobat uses somersault dexterity which is a basic acrobatic skill to perform such difficult feats as cart-wheel, forward and backward somersault, etc. On a trembling wire thus the performance on a tight-wire has been elevated to a new level.

Diabolo Skill
This is a traditional Chinese sport. During festivals, people vie with one another in playing diabolo to express their jubilation. It is imbued with a strong national flavour. The performer spins the diabolo rapidly, twirling it round their body, throwing it up or passing it onto another player with grace and dexterity. In the course of spinning the diabolo, the players make postures. Accompanied by Chinese national orchestral music, together with the roaring sound of the diabolo, an atmosphere of warmth and festivity is brought out.

Traditional-Style Conjuring
This is an ancient Chinese traditional performance unique in form and style.

With the help of a big robe and some pieces of cotton cloth, the conjurer turns out many large and small glass bowls filled with water and live fish, as well as a brazier with burning fire. While taking off the robe, the conjurer again turns out at the end of a somersault a big glass water bowl with fish in it. What is unique in that the conjurer produces water and fire without wetting or burning his robe.

Hoop Diving
This is an item developed from "Leaping through Rings on the Ground" with a long history background. It was known as "Swallow Play" more than two thousand years ago because the performers imitated the flying movements of swallows as they leapt nimbly through the narrow mat rings. It was also called "Dashing Through Narrows".

The performers are graceful and agile in their movements, demonstrating youthful vitality and breath-taking dexterity.

Jar Tricks
Jar, originally a grain container is used by the peasants to perform various feats in celebration of a bumper harvest. Later, it was adapted by acrobats and became a very popular number among the broad masses of the people. It demonstrates simplicity and steadiness and possesses a distinctive national flavour.

Wushu (Chinese Traditional Group Gymnastics)
It is derived from Chinese folk physical culture. With movements of somersault, pulling, jumping, kicking and various postures, it has become an acrobatic symbol. The agility, precision and rhythm of their movements convey a sense of vigour, strength and beauty.

Spring-Board Stunts
It is a new development from children's play. Through leaps and somersaults in the air, the acrobats perform graceful movements which give the audience a healthy enjoyment of acrobatic art.

Meteor Jugging
The performer swings glass bowls that move like meteors in the sky.

The performer revolves soft rope with two glass bowls filled with water fastened to its ends, tossing it up and performing difficult feats such as forward roll and backward somersault and then catching it again and continuing to dance and turn about without spilling the water.

Magic
With dexterous hands and simple properties, the conjurer performs many fancy tricks. He or she brings out a variety of things by skillful and clever acts and then makes them disappear again. It leaves the audience fascinated.

Vocal Imitation
Vocal Imitation is one of the fine traditional items in China. Records in ancient classical books can be traced back to early as 2,300 years ago in the Warring States Period. Through repeated process by generations of performers, its contents as well as its form of performance have been greatly enriched and the audience is carried away by the artists.

Cycling With Bowl Piling
This is a new item created after the founding of New China. Riding on a monocycle of more than 2 metres high on a round table, the performer kicks up bowls, kettle, and spoon with perfect and piles them on her head. The acrobat's skillful dexterity and humourous performance are greatly admired by the audience.

Turn On Suspended Strips
This is one of the folk sports in China. Adroitness and strength are required in this item, as well as action combined with stillness. Relying on their arm and wrist strength and their high skill of self control, the performers display the beauty of forceful movement and graceful postures.

Gymnastics On Double-Fixed Poles
"Pole Climbing" is one of the main traditional acrobatic numbers in China, vivid description appeared in drawings more than 1,000 years ago.

On the basis of "Pole-Climbing", new acrobatic movements such as jumping from one pole to the other, swift descent and many others are added. It demonstrates resourcefulness, courage and optimism, and brings the art of pole climbing to a new high level.

Puppet Art

Chinese puppet shows, which originated in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and flourished in the Tang (618-907 AD) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, have a history of more than 1,000 years. The art is categorized into four types, based on the shapes of the puppets and the operative skills: figure puppets, marionettes, stick puppets and wire-supported puppets. Each has its own artistic characteristics. At present, puppet shows are usually accompanied by the tunes of local operas and some include dialogues, song and dance. The figure puppets of Longxi county, marionettes of Quanzhou (both in Fujian Province), stick puppets of Haina Province and the Beijing region are will-known for their wide range of repertoire, fine-tuned performances and beautiful music. Some puppet troupes have performed abroad many times and been warmly welcomed.

Shadow Show

Shadow Show, also called "Shadow Play," uses light to cast the shadow of paper-cut of leather-cut figures on a white curtain. Its repertoire as well as tunes are interrelated with local operas. The artisan operates the figures while singing.

Chinese Shadow Show has a history of about 1,000 years. It is said that in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) the art spread to West Asia and Europe. Under the influence of different regions, many styles of Shadow Show have appeared. Those in Tangshan area, Hebei Province, with their distinctive donkey skin figures, and in Northwest China, with cattle hide figures, enjoy special popularity.