The art of painting pictures with words 陕北说书：绘声绘 色的艺术 Recent boost by popular video game takes Shaanbei storytelling tradition to young audiences 热门电子游戏助力传统陕北说书走入年轻人群体 " I will ask everyone to sit still, and let me tell you a story about the fierce wind in my hometown," says He Lianshan, sitting in the center of the stage, holding his sanxian, a long-necked, plucked string instrument. With a deep breath, He clears his throat and begins. “我们请大家都坐稳！说一个段段刮大风！”舞台中央，贺连善端坐其间，怀抱一把三弦，长颈拨弦乐器。他深吸一口气，清了清嗓子，开始说书。 " In the spring, the wind blows warm and gentle. In the summer, the wind blows hot and dry. In the autumn, the wind blows cool and crisp. In the winter, the wind blows cold enough to freeze you solid," he sings, his face constantly shifting between playful and dramatic, capturing the character and intensity of the wind. His voice, rich, hoarse, and powerful, rises and falls in a rhythmic cadence, each word carefully shaped to evoke the wind in the city of Zichang, Shaanxi province. “春天里刮风暖融融，夏天里刮风热烘烘，秋天里刮风凉飕飕，冬天里刮风冷死人。”他一边吟唱，面部表情时而诙谐，时而戏剧化，生动诠释着风的特点与强弱。他的嗓音沙哑浑厚，抑扬顿挫，富有节奏感，每个字都像被精心雕琢，唤起观众对陕西省子长市大风的无限遐想。 Besides plucking the strings of his instrument, his hands move in the air as if he is painting pictures of the scenes described in his lyrics. The audience is captivated, hanging on his every word and note, laughing at his humorous portrayal. 他的手边弹拨三弦，边在空中挥舞，仿佛用唱段描绘出一幅幅图景，令观众沉浸于每一个词句和音符，因其幽默诠释笑声不断。 Every week, the seasoned 58-year-old artist performs Shaanbei (northern Shaanxi) Shuoshu, a traditional form of oral performance art from Shaanxi province. The term shuoshu means storytelling, and this art form has deep roots in folk culture, particularly in rural northwestern China. This ancient tradition requires neither stage nor props — just the raw energy of the storyteller's voice and the imagination of the audience. 每周，这位58岁的资深艺人都会表演陕北说书，这是源自陕西省的一种传统口头表演艺术。"说书"即讲故事之意，这种艺术形式深深植根于民俗文化之中，尤其在中国西北农村地区广为流传。这一古老传统无需舞台或道具，仅凭说书人声音的原始力量与听众的想象力即可完成。 He is a famous storyteller in Shaanxi who now lives in Yan'an, an important former revolutionary base in the province. One of his disciples, Xiong Zhuying, went viral on social media for performing Shaanbei storytelling during the opening of the second chapter of the Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong, which became a global hit. Since then, He's schedule has become busier. He performs all over the country to introduce the art form to a wider audience. 贺连善是陕西著名的说书艺人，目前居住在陕西省的重要革命旧址——延安。他的徒弟熊竹英在国产游戏《黑神话：悟空》第二章开场时表演陕北说书，迅速在社交媒体上走红。该游戏后来成为全球热门，贺连善此后的演出安排变得更加密集，他走遍全国各地，致力于将这一艺术形式介绍给更多观众。 According to Huyan Qiang, director of the theater, Shaanbei storytelling dates back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC). The major characteristics of the art form include its dialect, instruments and techniques. As they pluck the strings of the sanxian or pipa, it produces sounds to draw the audience's attention. "The performers tell stories in a dramatic, highly expressive manner, using different vocal techniques, gestures, and sometimes physical props to engage the audience. The stories focus on historical figures or popular folklore, ranging from tales of everyday life to major events," says Huyan. 剧场负责人呼延强表示，陕北说书可追溯至西周时期（约公元前11世纪至公元前771年）。这一艺术形式的主要特点包括其方言、乐器和技巧。说书人拨动三弦或琵琶的琴弦，发出的声音引人入胜。呼延强说：“表演者以戏剧化、富有表现力的方式讲述故事，运用不同的声线技巧、肢体动作，有时还会使用道具来吸引观众。故事内容通常聚焦于历史人物或民间传说，从日常生活的小故事到重大历史事件都有。”
