Clapping, Talking, and Singing – The Art of Shuochang at Yu-Tsai

Order to preserve the art of shuochang in Taiwan, where resources are very limited,there is a group of people who have made promoting and continuing the art of shuochang their lifelong mission. People were born in an era where information was scarce and not readily available. They relied on their passion and determination to bring the art of shuochang back to the people. Following are a few quyi artists who are still active in developing, promoting, and continuing the art of shuochang.

Wu Zhao Nan

Taiwan’s Cross Talks National Treasure

I was young, I performed cross talks to survive. Now, I survive to perform cross talks,” said Mr. Wu Zhao Nan, Taiwan’s cross talks national treasure. Wu was born in Beijing, he later turned a famous cross talks performer in Taiwan. His teacher was Mr. Hou Bao Lin, a cross talks master. Mr. Wu studied Beijing opera when he was young, and he used to make a living performing Beijing opera. That was also when Mr. Wu learned the basics of talking, imitating, teasing, and singing. In one fateful encounter, he joined Mr. Wei Long Hao and Mr. Chen Yi An in a cross talks performance, and that performance marked the beginning of Mr. Wu’s spectacular journey in cross talks.

Wei Long Hao

Taiwan’s Cross Talks National Treasure

Mr. Wei Long Hao was born in Beijing, and his original name was Wei Su. He was a cross talks performer in Taiwan. He learned the trade by himself. When he was young, he enlisted himself because his family was extremely poor, and this move changed his life completely. His extraordinary talents in acting shone brightly during a performance on a military campground, and he was then immediately re-assigned to the Beijing drama team. During this time, Mr. Wei used his free time to observe the rehearsal of the regular drama team, and he learned lots of drama performing skills and tricks. After coming to Taiwan in 1948, he entered the army drama team and met Mr. Wu Zhao Nan, who was also interested in drama at that time and later became his lifelong confidant. This fateful meet acquainted Taiwan’s two cross talks national masters.

Wang Chen Chuan

Taiwan’s Art of Shuochang Advocate

Mr. Wang is a shuochang artist in Taiwan. He is talented in performing various forms of shuochang. His contribution to the art of shuochang in Taiwan is enormous, and he has mended the gap in Taiwan’s shuochang talent supply. Mr. Wang is undoubtedly a great advocate of shuochang in Taiwan. His contribution to shuochang is profound and brilliant.

Source：Wikipedia, Xinhua Net News｜Picture:the Original Artsy Shuo-Chang Posse

Yeh Yi Chun

The most influential female quyi artist in the twenty-first century

Ms. Yeh is a professional shuochang performer who holds a double major in pingshu and cross talks. She first studied under the guidance of Mr. Chen Yi An, and in 2007, she studied under the guidance of Mr. Tian Lian Yuan, who is a famous shuochang master in China. Ms. Yeh studied quyi tirelessly, and she enjoyed every second of it. She is not only an outstanding shuochang performer and educator, but also an excellent TV show hostess. Ms. Yeh is recognized by the international shuochang community as ‘the most influential female quyi artist in the twenty-first century.’

Zhu De Gang

A Multi-Talented Actor

Mr. Zhu is a talented actor, and his fame and accomplishment are visible in the fields of cross talks, theater, broadcasting, and television. He studied under the guidance of Mr. Wei Wen Liang. Mr. Chu and his partner Mr. Liu Zeng Kai are the first cross talks performers from Taiwan to make it on China’s Chinese New Year’s Eve TV show. Since joining Taipei Quyi Team in 2006, Mr. Chu has made many public cross talks shows, and he has been very dedicated in promoting and teaching performing art.

Lin Wen Bin

Taiwan’s Prince of Clappers

Mr. Lin is a professional quyi performer. He is highly trained in jing yun da gu, dan xian, tan ci, cross talks, and fast clappers. When he was in fifth grade, he fell in love with shuochang after listening to the performance of Taiwan’s national cross talks masters Wei Long Hao and Wu Zhao Nan. Mr. Lin’s expertise is in jing yun da gu. However, due to limited availability of qin players in Taiwan and people’s preference for quyi performances such as cross talks, fast clapper talks, and ping shu, Mr. Lin decided to focus on his second-best skill ‘fast clapper talks,’ earning him the title ‘Taiwan’s Prince of Clappers.’

Feng Yi Gang

Taiwan’s ‘New Hope in Cross Talks’

Feng Yi Gang is a performing artist, professional cross talks performer, and a short story writer. He is well-trained in theories of performing and the actual performing. When he was twenty-four years old, he started ‘Comedians Workshop,’ and it was praised by the industry as the new hope in cross talks. He is a devoted cross talks writer, performer, and promoter. His hard work has received recognition by people in the performing art community.

Source：Wikipedia, Education Encyclopedia ｜Picture:Comedians Workshop Facebook

Song Shao Qing

Comedians Workshop’s ‘Mascot’

As a half Amis, one of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes, Mr. Song has been very active on TV, films, broadcasting, and commercials. For twenty years, he has shined in the entertainment industry, and his splendid talents are well-known by the people of Taiwan. He is able to play any role and turn it into a classic. Mr. Song’s acting is explosive and dynamic, and he is especially good at injecting new lives into his characters. Mr. Song teamed up with Feng Yi Gang to create Comedians Workshop, and the two have been devoted to revamping and revolutionizing the art of cross talks. Every one of their shows is well-received by the public.

Source：Wikipedia, Comedians Workshop ｜Pictures:Comedians Workshop Facebook｜