Shulaibao ( zh, c=
æ•°æ¥å®, p=shÇ”láibÇŽo), also known as doggerel, jingle or clever tongue, is a Chinese
folk art form consisting of
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
poetry. It is usually performed by one person or a pair of performers.
The actors achieve an artistic effect by rhythmically reciting or improvising a story with a tightly-controlled number of words in each sentence. Shulaibao verse is typically humorous but easily understood. It is said to be deployed by street beggars, among others, as means of earning donations.
It may be used to deliver a light-hearted insult about audience members or rivals. In this way it is similar to the spoken word art forms, such as a
rap battle.
In 2014, the
Chinese State Council declared shulaibo to be part of the country's national "intangible cultural heritage".
See also
*
Xiangsheng
References
*
*Cultural China: Shulaibao http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/17Traditions1833.html
Xiangsheng
Chinese storytelling
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