Memoir of Chen Yun’s Association with Suzhou Pingtan Artists

Zhou Liangbian   Central Party Literature Press (August 2000)

Chen Yun had a strong passion for Pingtan since he grew up in the area where the Suzhou Pingtan (a musical/oral performance art form popular in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) enjoyed great popularity. After the 1950s, he started to find tranquility in such graceful performance art. Later on, he studied more Pingtan artists and works, as well as the development and innovation of Pingtan art. Counting Pingtan as a part of the Party’s cause of literature and art, Chen Yun gave enthusiastic support to it, which promoted the development and enhancement of Pingtan art.

Chen Yun integrated Marxist Literary Thought, the Party’s policies on the art and Pingtan’s development situation for study, which not only enriched and promoted the Marxist Literary Thought but also was of universal significance to guide literary and artistic work.

The fact that Chen Yun’s support and advancement of Pingtan art mirrors his strong sense of responsibility to the cause of literature and art, shows his unparalleled attention to national art traditions and folk arts loved by the masses, and demonstrates his close ties with the people and his patriotism and love for his hometown and the people.

Based on the Memoir of Comrade Chen Yun’s Association with Pingtan Artists, which was published in Volume 19 (1996) of The Art of Pingtan, a non-periodical publication in China, the book is supplemented with more substantial details to facilitate readers to understand his love for Pingtan and his style of work.