Chinese acrobatics has long been used to promote cultural exchanges between Chinese people and people in other countries. They also played an important role in spreading and developing science and technology in ancient China. Chinese invented gunpowder and contributed significantly to the world civilization. However, the initial use of gunpowder in China was far from weaponry, but instead focused on producing sound effects, smoke and pyrotechnics for acrobatic performances.
Acrobatic exchanges between China and other countries date back to ancient times, with acrobats from the Eastern Roman Empire and India performing in China as far back as the Han Dynasty. During the heydays of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Chinese acrobatics, together with music and dance, as an important part of Chinese culture spread to other countries through both land and sea routes of the Silk Road. Ancient India was celebrated for its magic tricks which were introduced to China by Indian monks and artists, and helped enrich Chinese acrobatics.
The World of Magic by Sakamoto Oiyoshi points out that Chinese magic and acrobatics were introduced to Japan in the 17th year (729) of the Kaiyuan Reign of Tang Dynasty Emperor Xuanzong. Magic and acrobatic acts such as knife swallowing, fire spitting, tree growing and tightrope walking were often performed at dinner parties held in the Japanese royal palace.
The dance Escaping into a Jar shows a unique Chinese acrobatic act based on magic and calisthenics. Chinese acrobatics was the first Chinese performing art to move onto the world stage in modern times. A Chinese acrobatic troupe led by the famous Chinese magician Zhu Liankui visited New York in the late 19th century. While in New York, Zhu used the opportunity to share skill at Catching Fish in the Pond, a magic act Zuo Ci performed for Cao Cao, the powerful prime minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), with American magician William Robinson.
Acrobatic art became a means new China used to promote cultural exchanges with other countries following the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949. One year later, the Ministry of Culture acted in accordance with the wishes of Premier Zhou Enlai and formed a work team of seven people to prepare for the establishment of an acrobatic troupe. The group included Luo Ruiqing, Liao Chengzhi, Tian Han, Li Bozhao and various other outstanding generals, senior playwrights and directors or high officials in charge of cultural exchanges with foreign countries.
Famous acrobatic artists from Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing and Wuhan were invited to perform in the Chinese capital, and a number of acrobatic items with rich national color were selected from their repertoires. The items included Jumping Through Hoops on the Ground, Juggling with Jars, Cycling Tricks, Traditional Magic, Hand Tricks, Diabolo Plays, Bowl Balancing, Plate Spinning, Flying from Pole to Pole and Wushu (martial arts) Performances. In the following month, efforts were made to improve the items, as well as costumes, props and musical accompaniment under the direction of cultural officials Li Bozhao and Zhou Weizhi. Chinese leaders Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De voiced great approval for their preview performance at Huairentang in Zhongnanhai and decided that they should form a performing troupe to tour the Soviet Union and other European countries. Zhou Enlai named the group as the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe. The group was officially established in 1953 and renamed as the China Acrobatic Troupe.
The troupe visited 14 countries, including the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Austria over the two-odd years to convey the friendly feelings Chinese people hold for people in other nations. Performances rich in ancient Chinese culture helped the people from various countries realize that the Chinese are an industrial, courageous, intelligent, optimistic and civilized people, and that China is a peace-loving country willing to live together with other countries in a peaceful and friendly manner.
Acrobats, China's envoys of peace and friendship, have traveled around the world performing in more than 100 countries over the past 40 years and have been favorably received in numerous countries without diplomatic ties with China. Their beautiful performances have enabled citizens in various countries to feel the friendliness of Chinese people and have helped accelerate the process of establishing friendly relations.
