After Mongol Armies had sacked and raised the City of Beijing (YanJing) to the last stone at the beginnings of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the first homes to re-appear were erected in the southern Xuanwu District. As described in this website, Xuanwu District is hence the oldest district of Beijing.
Soon in the early developments after the re-organization of the City by Emperor Yongle during the third reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Tianqiao Area between the poor dwellings in the southern districts became the main center of street performance in Beijing, located near the border of Xuanwu and Chongwen Districts on the road to the Main Gate of the Imperial City.
With the growing of Xuanwu into the commercial center of the City, but also home of the lower casts and recipient of camel caravans from afar, the legion of street artists among the mix of cultures in
Xuanwu and around Tian Qiao
grew to large numbers.
shrine...
Not by chance is the Tianqiao market located along the main artery to the front gate (QianMen) of the Imperial City. On this location, also the grounds for a market, the many performers found plenty of flock passing in and out of the city, buying at the local market and the like. Many were travelers from out of town and from faraway places. Visitors here were thus easy to seduce to some leisure time and watching the acrobatics, martial arts, opera or other -->
performances going on all the time in the immediate vicinity. The best spots to "own" were ofcourse near the corner of QianMen Dajie, the street leading up to the Front Gate and outer walls of the City of Beijing and still home to some famous and historic restaurants.
Notably, not a long way to the
West from Tianqiao, in an open
field, the Execution grounds of
the City were located. Local
ruffians with a taste for the
cruder kind of entertainment
could further entertain
themselves there, as public
executions, with or without
torture involved, were routine. Pick-pockets and others frequenting this spot in the Tianqiao Area with its convenient crowds and watering holes, could already
take a warning from this other ongoing activity.
The Tianqiao area, due to it's long
history and tradition of the various
kinds of chinese folk arts performed, slowly grew into the cradle of Chinese folk culture and art in Beijing (and North China). Here, where many original folk performances such as acrobatics and music were performed daily, new methods, techniques and styles were constantly being devised. Competition among the artists often was great, and the ever-critical chinese public demanded a high level of skill. Thus, the Tianqiao area
repeatedly gave birth to the
best and most famous of
performers in chinese history.
Techniques and styles here
developed and cultivated were caried by
others along the central canal and other trade routes and radiated out over China, becoming part of all of chinese culture.
Music, dance, street acrobatics and Peking Opera were the mainstay of performances in the Tianqiao Area of Beijing and throughout the cities of China through the centuries and millenia. As described in short, these folk arts have survived and lived throughout time developing into the Chinese stage arts we know today. These stage arts that are so typical for chinese culture have long been part of the Chinese soul and identity and currently remain at the heart of chinese identity.
Due to this important role of folk arts in chinese culture, and ofcourse the important contributions of many artists and performers to the chinese revolution
(Many (street-)artists flocked to the revolutionary HQ in Yenan, Shanxi, after which the folk arts became an intrinsic part of the revolutions media machine spreading the word on goals and disciplines),
since 1949 these various folk art forms have gained new respectability and were instituted as such by the New State.
Ensuring their continued role in chinese culture, after the revolution, so called "Acrobatic Troupes" have been established in the provinces, autonomous regions, and special municipalities such as Beijing and Shanghai. In post-revolutionary Beijing the Wansheng Theatre became the Home of the Beijing Acrobatic Troupe. Furthermore, theaters specifically dedicated to the variety arts were built in major cities, among these the Wansheng Theatre and the adjacent Tianqiao Theare for the National Ballet (and Traditional Chinese Dance). Since then, in over 50 years of rich performances at home and abroad, some troupes have become
An elderly lady in traditional Hutong Dress sits outside the Wansheng Theatre. The entrance to
the Theatre is through the
small gate and lantern-
hung alley.
Google Search inside www.drben.net for your information.
Webstyle produced NavBar
Handpainted Wall Posters call the old days of history into remembrance. As depicted the Xuanwu District was
basicly a
collection of slums, shacks and tents.
Front of the Wansheng Theatre, established in 1949 AD. Entrance on the right of the building.
Details of front of the Wansheng Theatre, established in 1949 AD.
Inscribed
in Stone - the text declares "Wan Sheng Theatre".
The gruesome punishment of death-by-
a-1000-cuttings.
One of the
worst penalties
possible.
Scene from Beijing Execution grounds at the advent of photography. A prisoner is sliced to death in public.
Origins of Chinese Acrobatics
In China, acrobatics ("Hundred Plays") have been a part of the culture since the Western Han Dynasty over 2500 years ago. In those days when "China" was much smaller and most of the population were farmers, acrobatics were part of village harvest festivals. An original tradition still alive today as it continues in the remote and mountainous western inland parts of the China. Some 6 centuries later, during the Tang Dynasty,
View of the Tianqiao Theatre Front across from the Wansheng Theatre. The home and podium of the National Ballet of China.
performances for a highly critical audience the dominating practice in this original folk art.
Variety arts in China, which includes tightrope walking and acrobatics, but also animal acts, and sleight of hand -->
The main entrance to the Wan Sheng Theatre in view of modern appartments.
development as European acrobatics did in the Middle Ages as highly skilled artists moved upscale and away from street performances. In this period Acrobats and artists increasingly performed at courts and palaces and parties of the feudal elite. This situation further developed through the 7th to 10th century, making court -->
chinese acro-
batics
under
-went a similar
A large Neon Sign with bright dancing acrobats announces the Theatre in Evenings.
The main entrance to the Wan Sheng Theatre oddly is not found at the Front at Beiwei Lu but at the East-side of the building.
(juggling, magic shows and the like) date back at least as far as the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) and similarly later became very popular as entertainment in the imperial courts.
In later history many of these various art-forms and feats were incorporated into the traditional theater and they continued to be performed by itinerant troupes traveling the country. As these troupes traveled around they developed, copied and learned from eachother and enriched their repertoir and chinese culture as a whole. One of the places where this process was taking place was the Tianqiao Area of the Imperial Capital of Beijing. Another
Fresh and Modern Appartments have arisen in and around the Tianqiao Area, reviving the neighborhood and adding considerable glamour.
Morning passersby at Wansheng Theatre in 2002.
world famous, playing to packed houses at home and on foreign tours. As in days past - today's tourists and locals further enjoy variations on the stage acts who's foundations were layed so long ago.
Traditional acts such as "balancing on the long pole", "jumping through hoops" and "breathing fire" are still in use, but Beijing and China have modernised too.
Nowadays spectacular costumes abound and are the norm. Space Age features have replaced more traditional dress, stages are enlarged, very colorful and eye-catching, and more much more impressive.
The Chaoyang Theatre has opened an Acrobatic Show by the China Acrobatic Troupe and Acrobatics are once again among the Top Attractions in the City.
With stage developments the Wansheng Theatre and Tainqiao Area have also
bastion of the art of acrobatics was considered Wuqiao County of Hebei Province.
changed considerably.
Where before the nighttime activity in the Tianqiao Area was extremely low for western standards, the situation has much improved since the year 2002. With more affluency in China's large cities, long overdue renovations have taken place and the nearby area is now dotted with upscale apartments home to young families with an above average income. Tianqiao is definitely to be considered a real estate success. As a result of this new bars and
entertainment restaurants have sprung up. The nearby Tianqiaole Tea
House even features traditional martial arts performances, always a hit among foreign visitors and other places offer a variety of other stage shows.
View of the Wansheng Theatre from the Tianqiao Theatre.
Rickshaw and Hutong snacks at Beiwei Lu and the Wansheng Theatre.
Wansheng Theatre,
Home of the Beijing Acrobatics Troupe
Beiwei Lu , Xuanwu District, Beijing.
Tel. 010/6303-7449; Business Hours - nightly shows at 7:15pm
Pricing (2006 November last check) ¥100-¥200/$12-$25
Another ancient Street Art - the Puppets Theatre is now near lost. A Great Cultural Film about Li-Tien Lu , an old Puppert Master.
Buy it at Movie Universe - Click Here
NEW ! - Documentary DVD - Sensational Chinese Acrobatic Groups and their stunning performances.
