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Yingge Lunar New Year Dancers Find New Audiences on China's TikTok
TaiwanPlus News
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1/27/2025
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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00:00
Spectators in the southern Chinese city of Shantou watch a performance of a traditional
00:07
dance, the yingge, or song of heroes, ahead of Lunar New Year.
00:11
It's a spectacle that's been registered on China's list of intangible cultural heritage
00:15
since 2006.
00:16
It's very lively.
00:17
It's very exciting.
00:18
It's not like we feel that the New Year is getting more and more tasteless.
00:19
It's very distinctive.
00:20
We come to see it.
00:21
Around 40 dancers, aged 12 to 30, took part.
00:34
This art form was once on the decline, but the dancers say there's proof out there that
00:39
it can still attract young people.
00:41
The yingge is traditionally performed at the start of the Lunar New Year, during a day
01:07
called Xiaonian.
01:09
It's a reenactment of the classic Ming Dynasty novel, Water Margin, Shuihu Zhuang, telling
01:14
the story through a blend of martial arts and Chinese opera.
01:18
The plot follows a band of 108 Song Dynasty outlaws who rebelled against the government,
01:23
earned amnesty, and were later enlisted to fight nomads.
01:40
Many Lunar New Year traditions in China are disappearing as modern lifestyles take hold.
01:45
In some cities, staples like firecrackers have been banned, and increasing urbanization
01:50
is blending regional traditions into larger national customs.
01:55
But despite this, yingge performers are reaching much larger audiences online, in particular
02:00
on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
02:18
While its traditions have changed with the times, the energy and spirit of yingge dance
02:22
has proven timeless.
02:24
And thanks to performers' use of digital platforms, this ancient art form is finding new audiences
02:29
in China and across the globe.
02:32
Scott Huang and Bryn Thomas for Taiwan Plus.
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