Datong Intangible Cultural Heritage

As a frontier city of military importance in ancient times, Datong was located on the front line between the Han Chinese and northern nomadic nationalities, and therefore developed a folk art and culture with unique characteristics. The intangible cultural heritage of Datong has three parts: opera, craftsmanship and folk festival. As a treasure of local folk art, Datong local opera with unique local characteristics are still popular among the local people and perform on the stage today, these include Shuahai’er Opera, Luoluoqiang (rolls-cavity), Errentai Opera (two person small-scale drama) and shulaibao (a folk theater consisting of recitation accompanied by clapper board rhythm). With long history and profound cultural, the city of Datong is famous for its rich natural resources and unique folk art. There are many talented and creative local professional and amateur masters of arts and crafts born in this area. Much local craftsmanship can be found in this rich culture soil, among copperware, paper cutting of Guangling County, Family Kang’s silk figures, coal gangue carving etc.

Datong Shuahai’er

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Datong Shuahai’er was originally a north zaju poetic drama set to music, flourishing in the Yuan and Jin Dynasties and fully developed into an opera during the period of the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty. It has more than 250 years history. During the past two hundred years it has become popular among areas outside Yanmen Pass of the Great Wall, such as Suozhou, Datong and some regions in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

Lingqiu Rolls-cavity

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Lingqiu Rolls-cavity is an ancient local opera originally developed from ancient Geyang Melody. Rolls-cavity was developed into an independent opera form in the middle period of the Qing Dynasty when Emperor Jiajing reigned. In the original form of Rolls-cavity only one actor performed on the stage, the rest of the actors performed back stage as a chorus with vocal accompaniment of lo-lo-yo-yo, thus giving it the name Rolls-cavity.

Yanggao Song and Dance Duet

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Yanggao Song and Dance Duet has developed its own character by incorporating benefits of folk song and other operas over the past two hundred years. It has both Shanxi and Inner Mongolian elements. In 2007, Yanggao County was named 'Song and Dance Duet Hometown of China' by the China Folk Literature and Art Association.

Datong rhythmic story-telling to clapper accompaniment

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Datong rhythmic story-telling to clapper accompaniment was created by two brothers of the Chai family in Datong by incorporating comic dialogue, rhythmic story-telling to a clapper accompaniment with witty skits using modern story telling folk art forms. It is performed in Datong local dialect with two performers speaking or singing alternately.

Datong Copperware

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Datong Copperware was originally made in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) more than 2,700 years ago. Datong copperware has developed eight series with more than 350 varieties, namely royal family copperware, traditional copper hot pot, Buddhist gilt votive objects, tourist souvenirs, copper tableware, tea set and wine set, copper art product, among which copper hot pot is the most popular product. The copper hot pot named ‘Nine Dragon Flying to the Moon’ is made with a combination of techniques including mount, relief and copper-strip inlay.

Guangling Paper Cut

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Guangling Paper Cut has a history of over 3,000 years. Guangling Paper Cut first appeared in an embryonic form as early as the begining of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and fully developed its own character in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) which has lasted to this day. Guangling Paper constitutes a unique school in the world of paper, apart from any other artistic tradition with its characteristics of bright colors, vivid model, delicate lines, a dynamic form of expression and skillful engraving. It as a reputation as a 'Unique Chinese Folk Art' and was added to the list of World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009.

Coal Gangue Carving

Photographed by Liu Yujun

The raw material of Coal Gangue Carving is coal gangue buried more than300 metres deep underground below 300 meters formed in the Jurassic Period 140 million years ago. It has three types of carving, namely flat carving, shadow carving and relief carving. The motifs which are popularly used are animals, flowers, birds, famous calligraphy and paintings, portrait of great men, historical sites and scenic spots. A typical carving is the Giant Buddha in Cave 20 of Yungang Grottoes.

Family Kang’s Silk Figures

Photographed by Liu Yujun

Family Kang’s Silk Figures are named after Kang Qiaoling, a folk artist in Datong. Her silk figures are inspired by Buddha, Bodhisattva, and the flying celestials of Yungang Grottoes and Huayan Temple and Chinese traditional opera figures combining facial makeup, dress and postures of Chinese opera. Top Chinese silks and satins are selected for the production of each silk figure. With the improvement in skill levels single figures have been expanded into large scale complex silk figure coloured lanterns.