Wuqiao acrobatics

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Wuqiao acrobatics

Applicant: Wuqiao County, Hebei Province

Project No.: 283

Project No.: VI - 1

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional sports, recreation and acrobatics

Region: Hebei Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Wuqiao County, Hebei Province

Protection unit: Wuqiao Acrobatic Troupe

Introduction to Wuqiao acrobatics

Applicant: Wuqiao County, Hebei Province

Wuqiao county is located in the southeast of Hebei Province, under the jurisdiction of Cangzhou, is a world-famous town of acrobatics.

Wuqiao acrobatic culture is formed with the development of Chinese acrobatics. Now it mainly spreads in Wuqiao County, Ningjin County and Lingxian County of Shandong Province.

Hebei Province is one of the birthplaces of Chinese acrobatics. In the tomb of King Cheng of Zhongshan state during the Warring States period, there were silver headed figurines and bronze lamps used to practice acrobatics. Wuqiao was an area where acrobatics were concentrated in Jizhou for a long time. In the Song Dynasty, acrobatics went to the folk, with the appearance of "GouLan", "Washe" and other forms of performance. In the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, Wuqiao acrobatics reached its peak.

In the process of two thousand years of change, Wuqiao acrobatic culture has been constantly enriched and developed. It worships "Lu Zu" as its industry God, creates the industry "spring code" (that is, Xinghua), derives the oral art forms such as "speaking", "Gong Song" in the performance, forms the unique rules of performance, props, management and inheritance, and forms a complete industry culture system. It is highly praised by the National Acrobatic circles, and its influence has spread all over the world, known as "ten directions" There are nine acrobatics students in Wuqiao, and there is no acrobatics class without Wuqiao people.

There are many acrobatics practitioners in Wuqiao, and there are many kinds of programs, which are widely spread in many areas. According to statistics, there are 486 items in seven categories: body skills, props skills, disguised bionics, animal training, equestrian skills, traditional magic and funny, which embody the martial arts, righteousness and indomitable spirit of Wuqiao acrobatic culture and are praised by people.

However, since the 1950s, due to the changes of social, political and economic conditions, performance organization forms and activity forms, there are fewer and fewer veteran artists, coaches and craftsmen, and the industry rules are weakening. Wuqiao acrobatic culture is in danger of dying out, which needs to be excavated and protected.