A number of ducal states similar to city-states in ancient Greece existed in China during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-221BC). These states contended with one another for supremacy efforts to conquer neighbors and paid great attention to enlisting the services of worthy men, including mentor-advisors and skilled martial arts warriors. People proficient in a particular skill were eager to serve rulers and high officials. They not only sought to entertain their lords with their skills, but also wanted to help their lords accomplish great things at critical moments. The ranks of worthy men during the period included expert advisors, eloquent speakers, people with other unique skills and men of unusual courage and strength. The latter group provided the technical foundation for the development of the art of acrobatics.
Lord Mengchang in Qi, Lord Xinling in Wei, Lord Chunshen in Chu, Lord Pingyuan in Zhao and Qin Prime Minister Lü Buwei were all great patrons during the Warring States Period and each nurtured thousands of proteges. Their strong proteges were proficient in combat skills and are believed to have contributed to the growth of acrobatic art in China. The great strength of Shu-liang-he, the father of Confucius, was well known in various states during the Spring and Autumn Period. In 563BC, some states joined in a campaign against Biyang, a small state in today's Shandong Province. The emergency city gate weighing over 1,000 pounds was lowered when allied troops stormed the capital of Biyang. Shu-liang-he acted at the critical moment and stretched his arms to support the falling gate and thus ensured the successful capture of the city. Di Simi and Qin Jinfu, two warriors of unusual strength, also fought in the campaign. Di would juggle a large leather-covered wheel with one hand and wield a trident with the other during battles. Qi, on the other hand, could easily scale city walls using only pieces of cloth hanging from battlements. Feats performed by Shu-liang-he, Di Simi and Qin Jinfu can be regarded as the forerunners of popular acrobatic acts such as Tripod Lifting, Wheel Juggling and Rope Climbing developed during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). The King of Qin invited Lord Mengchang to pay a visit to his state. Lord Mengchang arrived in Qin only to find himself placed under house arrest.
The king's favorite concubine responded to Lord Mengchang's appeal for help by demanding that he present her with his precious white fox fur. Shortly after his arrival in Qin, however, Lord Mengchang had presented the white fox fur, a piece without equal in the world, to the king. Lord Mengchang realized there was only one fur and consulted his proteges. One of his most humble followers managed to retrieve the fur by slipping into the palace through a small opening for dogs, a space much smaller than his body. The man's feat was in fact the prototype for "jumping through hoops" and "penetrating buckets" which we see today. The concubine received the fur and interceded with the king to win Lord Mengchang's release. Lord Mengchang grasped the opportunity to flee the palace on horseback and reached the border pass by midnight. The king of Qin regretted his decision upon learning of Lord Mengchang's departure and dispatched men in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, Lord Mengchang discovered that the pass was closed and feared he might be overtaken when learning of the rule that no one could pass before the cock crowed in the morning. Luckily, however, one of his followers had the ability to imitate the crow of a cock. His uncanny imitation set all other cocks crowing. This enabled Lord Mengchang's entourages to pass through the pass and successfully flee the State of Qin. This incident took place in 298BC and is recorded in the Records of the Warring States compiled during the Han Dynasty. Lord Mengchang is thus worshipped as the patron saint of the art of vocal imitation just as Tang Dynasty (618-907) Emperor Xuanzong is worshipped as the patron saint of Peking Opera in China.
The following segment appears in The Works of Liezi by Lie Yukou: "Magicians from the westernmost country came to perform in China during the time of King Mu of Zhou." It goes on to say that the magicians were capable of passing through water and fire unharmed, penetrating metal or stone objects at will, levitating in midair and walking through walls.
The Biographies of Eminent Women by Liu Xiang contains the following story of the Warring States Period art of making oneself invisible. On one particular day, King Xuan of Qi was chatting with his wife Zhongli Chun, who was anxious to exhibit her magical skills. "I often practice the art of making oneself invisible," said Zhongli. "I wish I could learn the art," said the king. "Will you please show me your skill?" The king was astonished to find that the queen immediately disappeared. A large number of people skilled in magic and acrobatics lived during the Spring and Autumn Period, with their existence providing good conditions for promoting the prosperity of variety shows in the succeeding Qin and Han dynasties.
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