Temple dancers in China are performing the Yingge, or "Hero's Song," ahead of the Lunar New Year. Once fading, this colorful dance—blending martial arts with Chinese opera—is now finding new audiences on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.
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00:00Spectators in the southern Chinese city of Shantou watch a performance of a traditional
00:07dance, the yingge, or song of heroes, ahead of Lunar New Year.
00:11It's a spectacle that's been registered on China's list of intangible cultural heritage
00:15since 2006.
00:16It's very lively.
00:17It's very exciting.
00:18It's not like we feel that the New Year is getting more and more tasteless.
00:19It's very distinctive.
00:20We come to see it.
00:21Around 40 dancers, aged 12 to 30, took part.
00:34This art form was once on the decline, but the dancers say there's proof out there that
00:39it can still attract young people.
00:41The yingge is traditionally performed at the start of the Lunar New Year, during a day
01:07called Xiaonian.
01:09It's a reenactment of the classic Ming Dynasty novel, Water Margin, Shuihu Zhuang, telling
01:14the story through a blend of martial arts and Chinese opera.
01:18The plot follows a band of 108 Song Dynasty outlaws who rebelled against the government,
01:23earned amnesty, and were later enlisted to fight nomads.
01:40Many Lunar New Year traditions in China are disappearing as modern lifestyles take hold.
01:45In some cities, staples like firecrackers have been banned, and increasing urbanization
01:50is blending regional traditions into larger national customs.
01:55But despite this, yingge performers are reaching much larger audiences online, in particular
02:00on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
02:18While its traditions have changed with the times, the energy and spirit of yingge dance
02:22has proven timeless.
02:24And thanks to performers' use of digital platforms, this ancient art form is finding new audiences
02:29in China and across the globe.
02:32Scott Huang and Bryn Thomas for Taiwan Plus.