Shulaibao ( zh, c= 数来宝, p=shǔláibǎo), also known as doggerel, jingle or clever tongue, is a Chinese

folk art Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative art, decorative. The makers of folk art a ...

form consisting of

spoken word Spoken word is an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a 20th-century continuation of an oral tradition, ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetic ...

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 Battle rap (also known as rap battling)Edwards, Paul, 2009, p. 25. is a type of rapping performed between two or more performers that incorporates boasts, insults, wordplay and disses originating in the African-American community. Battle rap is of ...

. In 2014, the

Chinese State Council The State Council of the People's Republic of China, also known as the Central People's Government, is the chief administrative authority and national cabinet. It is constitutionally the highest administrative organ of the country and the ex ...

declared shulaibo to be part of the country's national "intangible cultural heritage".

References

* *Cultural China: Shulaibao http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/17Traditions1833.html Xiangsheng Chinese storytelling {{China-stub

See also

References