When talking about Shan Tianfang and his storytelling, people of different ages tend to smile understandingly. His hoarse and individualistic voice, coupled with much expression and emotion, has been spread throughout the country. Shan is hailed as a "forever electric wave," as his storytelling has left a deep impression on several generations. This year marks Shan's 50th year in storytelling.
Now, over 100 broadcasting stations in China have opened the "Shan Tianfang Storytelling Channel," which shows the incomparable charm of the old storyteller. It will take 30 years to continuously broadcast the stories he has told.
Originally named Shan Chuanzhong, Shan Tianfang was born in 1935 in a family of Quyi (a general term for several kinds of speech-oriented performances). His grandparents and parents were either storytellers or Xihe Dagu(a kind of folk music) singers. Under their daily guidance, Shan could vividly and dramatically tell such stories as "Baogong (one of the most upright judges in Chinese history) Cases" and "Hu Yanqing in Emulation Campaign" when he was only five to six years old.
His parents, who endured various hardships, insisted on his changing to another profession and concentrating on academic studies. Not disappointing his parents, Shan
entered a scientific department of Northeast Engineering College in 1953, but was delayed due to health problems.
At that time, the People's Republic of China had been established for four years, and storytellers were gradually winning the society's acceptance and respect, which aroused Shan's interest in storytelling. In 1955, therefore, he formally apprenticed to Li Qinghai, an experienced storytelling artist, and got himself a stage name - Shan Tianfang, thus starting his career as a storyteller.
His family's influence combined with his inborn talent brought the 22-year-old Shan quick success in the city of Anshan in Northeast China's Liaoning province. At that time, theteahouses where Shan told stories were always extremely crowded.
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