Representatives of many schools of storytelling and ballad performance present their repertoires. But most artists come from the Henan Zhuizi storytelling school. Narratives focus on ancient legends, heroes, virtuous women and patriots.

Many stories have been innovated upon to reflect modern life.

Lu Huarang, a 45-year-old farmer from Pingdingshan county, who has attended the fair for about three decades, performed a Henan Zhuizi ballad to promote family-planning policies.

Folk artists from around the country demonstrate their skills at the annual folk art fair in Majie, Henan province. [Photo: China Daily]

"The folk story I just performed was named The Sadness of Having too Many Sons, which describes an old man who has five sons but none of them offered help when he met difficulties," she says.

"It's an innovation on the genre to advocate the country's policies through Henan Zhuizi Opera."

Yang Jiafu, a 64-year-old Pingdingshan city resident who came to the fair with his son, says watching operas in the field is more invigorating than to watch them on TV.

"It's a pity the fair is only once a year," Yang says.

"There should be more fairs like this."

The Majie Folk Art Fair was listed among China's intangible cultural heritage items by the State Council in 2005.

The fair's origins come from Majie's location at the gateway between the mountains and plains.

The village was a major point of passage for caravans and traveling folk artists in ancient China. Folk artists passing through staged performances on holidays and celebrations. Over time, the village became the place where artists from around the county come to ply their trades during the Lunar New Year. It's an opportunity for folk performers with few income opportunities to thicken their wallets.

Shang Jianshe, a 54-year-old folk artist from Lankao county, who has been attending the fair since he was 9 years old, says he can earn up to 2,500 yuan during the fair.

"I can support my 80-year-old mother and myself with that," he says.

"It's a pity there are so few fairs."

But the younger generation's mindset might mean the end of this age-old tradition.

Lu He, a 24-year-old student of Beijing's Communication University of China, believes protecting folk art is important but she wouldn't want to learn how to perform them.

"I came because I majored in folk opera," she says.

"But we young people face many practical pressures. Learning folk arts won't bring me a house or a car."

Source: China Daily

Editor: MetalAllen