Chinese Oral Storytelling: The Ancient Art of Shuoshu

Storytelling (shuoshu) is one of the oldest art forms in China. Long before books existed, Chinese people gathered to hear myths, legends, and tales passed down orally. This tradition continues today in transformed forms.

The Professional Storyteller

The professional storyteller (shuoshu xiansheng) was a central figure in Chinese life for over a thousand years. Armed with a fan, a wooden clapper, and encyclopedic knowledge, storytellers held audiences spellbound for hours.

Liu Lanru

Liu Lanru of the late Ming and early Qing was considered the greatest storyteller in Chinese history, able to reduce audiences to tears with tragic passages and set them roaring with laughter at comic scenes.

Modern Storytelling

Today, Chinese podcast platforms host thousands of storytellers. The serial publication of fiction online, in short chapters updated daily, is a direct descendant of the storytelling tradition.