Final curtain falls for classic storyteller

Pingshu emerged during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is one of the most widely popular forms of quyi－a general term for traditional Chinese folk arts that also include ballad singing and cross-talk, or xiangsheng. In 2008, pingshu was inscribed as part of the country's intangible cultural heritage.

Most pingshu stories are adapted from ancient Chinese literature.

One of Shan's best known works was The Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasties, based on the historical novel of the same title by Chu Renhuo (1635-82). This tells the stories of events that led to the fall of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and the rise of Tang Dynasty (618-907).

With a simple backdrop－usually a pair of screen doors, a table, a folding fan and a block of wood (known as xingmu)－Shan won a large base of enthusiastic fans for his solid techniques and improvisation in describing scenes from the book in a vivid and captivating way.

He also accompanied the stories with witty comments and expressive body language that appealed to audiences of all ages and interests.

The xingmu is knocked against the table to start, end and highlight the performance, while the fan is used by the artists to illustrate some activities, such as writing a letter, reading a book or pointing a sword.

Liu Lanfang, 74, one of the few female pingshu artists, wrote on her Sina Weibo account, "It is with profound sorrow that we have lost the great artist, Shan Tianfang."

Mourning her old friend, Liu said she worked with Shan for more than 30 years in the Anshan Quyi Troupe, and Shan had made a great contribution to pingshu, performing over 130 works in live shows and on recordings for radio and television stations nationwide.

Liu's work The Story of Yue Fei was one of the most well-received among Chinese audiences in the 1980s. It tells the story of the patriotic general Yue Fei (1103-1142) of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) army.

Liu said: "Pingshu delivers a sense of positivity, with the central theme of each story portraying vividly different characters. The contrast between good and evil in the stories told by pingshu artists is not only entertaining but also educational.

"Listening to pingshu has allowed generations of Chinese people to appreciate the art of oral stories and the underlying values of Chinese culture. Although the pingshu tales are old, the core values told in the stories are still connected to today's audiences.