Chang Xin Wen, Ningbo Folk Art

Chang Xin Wen (Singing news) is a kind of song that was popular in east Zhejiang, especially in Fenghua, Beilun, Zhenhai, Yinzhou and Xiangshan. Chang Xin Wen has a long history of hundreds of years. In the Southern Song Dynasty period, there were blind people singing theCao Bao(official news), later it evolved into social news. The content of the news was ancient and modern stories and popular tunes spread in the local streets, and were sung in dialect and slang. When the artist was singing, he would carry a drumstick and a wood piece in his right hand, a gong in the left hand and a small drum on his lap. The artist sang while playing the drum, gong or bamboo clappers.

Chang Xin Wen existed in different forms.Chang Men Tou, or singing by the door, was news that was sung in front of peoples houses, and was similar to begging. Luo Bian Chang, was singing in peoples yards or halls and receiving some money after each song or performance. Chang Hang Chuan, was when artists sang for money on boats and was very popular in the areas with lots of rivers. Chang Deng Tou,orsinging under the lights, was when the artists sang in the temples fairs and markets. Chang Chang Zi was sung only by high-level artists who could sing an entire story.

Chang Xin Wen was listed in Ningbo Folk Art published by Ningbo Publishing Company in 1998 and The Selection of Ningbo Traditional Folk Art Works published in 2006.

Source: Ningbo Non-material

Cultural Heritage Website

LINK:	http://en.nbwh.gov.cn/art/2013/6/14/art_1325_41166.html...
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