Art form gets back in the saddle

The change came in 2005, when the State Council issued a notice on strengthening the protection of cultural heritage, which renewed Guo's determination to revitalize the historical art.

With nearly all historical performance information missing, Guo spoke to his elders in the village and got five bamboo horse drama scripts based on their memories.

His efforts helped publicize the art form, which was named a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Shanxi in 2008 and was put under protection as a key national cultural ecology project in the province in 2012.

In the winter of 2014, Guo dug into his own pocket and spent more than 100,000 yuan ($14,500) buying props and musical instruments, in an effort to establish a bamboo horse performance troupe.

However, the most difficult part turned out to be finding performers.

"Many villagers had left the village to work in the cities," Guo says.

"Some didn't want to join after finding out it was organized by me, an individual who might not even pay them."