Xiang Sheng - Xiang Sheng (English spelling)

Japanese: 相声 - しょうせい（英語表記）xiàng shēng

A light-hearted storytelling art that originated in Beijing, China. It has a history of about 120 years. It is also written as Xiansheng, as it is based on vocal imitation. Depending on the number of people, it is divided into single-spoken (rakugo), double-spoken (manzai), and group-spoken (three or more). All have consistent content. Single-spoken is rare today, and double-spoken is overwhelmingly more common. The art includes tongue twisters, rhythmic recitation, dialect, and continuous recitation, as well as witty improvised poetry, vocal imitation, theatrical songs, folk songs, magic tricks, martial arts forms, and other erotic elements. Zhu Shaowen, who is considered the founder of the art, was a former Peking Opera clown, but was also an educated man who also wrote plays, and double-spoken is said to have originated with him.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国，北京に起源をもつ軽口話芸。120年ほどの歴史をもつ。声帯模写がもとなので像声とも書くという。人数により単口(落語)，対口(漫才)，群口(3人以上のもの)に分かれる。どれも一貫した内容を持つ。単口は今日まれで対口が圧倒的。芸は早口言葉，リズミカルな朗誦，方言，一気呵成につらねる口技のほか，機知にとんだ即興詩や，声帯模写，芝居唄，俗曲，手品，武術の型など色ものの要素も含む。鼻祖とされる朱少文は京劇道化出身だが，劇作もした教養人で，対口は彼に始まるといわれる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Commendation - Shosei

>>: Jo Sukenaga