ABSTRACT
Lianhua lao, literally 'songs of the lotus flowers', is one of the forms of shuochang yishu [narrated and chanted arts]. It has existed for over a thousand years, passing from generation to generation in oral tradition. Early in the 1950s we found proof of this in Beijing, where we were fortunate enough to enjoy several performances of lianhua lao in one of the marketplaces. It was an eloquent demonstration of the remarkable vitality of Chinese folk traditions - a vitality sustained by the ability of lianhua lao to absorb new elements and react to the needs of the time, within the traditions of folklore.
