Chinese Acrobatics

The acrobatic art is a traditional Chinese performing art with a long history. Broadly speaking, the art includes all special performances and was called “miscellaneous art” and “varied skills and music” in ancient times.

Acrobatics are a form of art extracted from skills in daily life, work and martial arts, originated from primitive man’s hunting activities. In the early stages of the development of Chinese art, the acrobatic art was not separated from music and dance. In the Han Dynasty, acrobatics enjoyed booming development. Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty loved the art very much and would hold grand shows featuring acrobatics, music and dance. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, a new type of performing art with acrobatics at the center was formed. It was called the “hundred play”. In the Tang Dynasty, acrobatics became a popular art in the imperial court and among ordinary people. In the Song and Yuan dynasties, unique acrobatic skills were widely spread. In late Qing Dynasty and the early days of the Republic of China, Chinese acrobatics were introduced abroad.

Currently, based on the inheritance of tradition, continuing innovations have been made to modern Chinese acrobatics and created distinctive characteristics, bringing a special charm to the Chinese performing art. Even today, in the famous “home of Chinese acrobatics”- Wuqiao County of Hebei Province, there are generations of young people devoting themselves to the art, adding youthful luster to the age-old art and bringing it to the global stage.