CIA-RDP96-00792R000200280001-5

CONFIDENTIAL
Approve8G0A Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000200280001-5
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CONFIDENTIAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 07968
FOLLOWING MESSAGE TRANSMITS CHENGDU 331 QUOTE
E.0. 12356: N/A
/ *********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE
*********** /
BODY
TAGS: PGOV, SCUL, ECON, CH
SUBJECT: SHANDONG CIRCUS THRILLS SICHUAN CROWDS AND
-
EARNS MONEY FOR PROVINCIAL CULTURAL BUREAU
1. (U) SUMMARY: CHINA'S CIRCUS TRADITION PREDATES
RINGLING BROTHERS BY MANY CENTURIES BUT IS NOW CLOSE
TO EXTINCTION.
CONGENOFF WAS LUCKY TO ENCOUNTER
CHINA'S ONLY REMAINING ROAD SHOW DURING A VISIT TO THE
SICHUAN TOWN OF YIBIN.
THE CIRCUS, FROM SHANDONG, HAS
BEEN PERFORMING IN SICHUAN FOR OVER ONE YEAR.
THE
SHOW REPRESENTS A POTPOURRI FROM MANY PERFORMING
TRADITIONS, INCLUDING BEIJING OPERA, ACROBATICS.
"QIGONG," DISCO DANCING AND BODYBUILDING. AS A SIGN
OF HOW FAR THE ANNUAL CONTRACT ( "CHENGBAO") SYSTEM HAS
PENETRATED, EVEN THIS CIRCUS HAS A "CHENGBAO."
END SUMMARY.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000200280001-5

CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000200280001-5
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PAGE : 0007
THE BIG TOP COMES TO TOWN
2. (U) DURING A MARCH 3-9 VISIT TO THE SOUTHERN /
SICHUAN TOWN OF YIBIN, CONGENOFF'S CURIOSITY WAS
AROUSED BY A HUGE TENT ERECTED IN A PUBLIC SQUARE
ALONG THE TOWN'S MAIN BOULEVARD.
THERE WAS A
CARNIVAL-LIKE ATMOSPHERE IN THE AIR.
VENDORS SOLD
LAMB SHISH KEBABS ROASTED OVER CHARCOAL AND SOLDIERS
PATRONIZED SHOOTING GALLERIES, TAKING AIM AT COLORFUL
BALLOONS.
MEMBERS OF A BRASS BAND, WEARING ARMY
CLOTHING STRIPPED OF ALL INSIGNIA AND REMINISCENT OF A
SALVATION ARMY BAND, PLAYED POORLY BUT WITH GREAT
GUSTO.
THE GATHERING CROWD WAS WOOED BY A HAWKER
SELLING TICKETS FOR NONE OTHER THAN THE SHANDONG
SHUIBO LIANGSHAN CIRCUS. ABOUT THE ONLY INGREDIENT
MISSING WAS A BEARDED LADY AND OTHER FREAKS, BUT TO
MANY MEMBERS OF THE CROWD, CONGENOFF SEEMED TO BE AN
ACCEPTABLE STAND-IN.
A THRILL A MINUTE
3. (U) THE HAWKER'S SPIEL WAS IRRESISTABLE. THE
CIRCUS WAS BILLED AS ONE OF ONLY THREE REMAINING
CIRCUSES IN CHINA. DOUBLE-BILLED WITH THE CIRCUS WAS
"QIGONG" MASTER DING HUA, A RENOWNED MASTER OF "HARD"
QIGONG FROM WUTAI MOUNTAIN AND AN ADVISER TO THE
BEIJING FILM STUDIO. QIGONG IS A MYSTERIOUS
PRACTICE. THROUGH THE MASTERY OF AN INNER FORCE,
PRACTITIONERS ACQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY POWERS, SUCH AS
THE ABILITY TO DIAGNOSE AND HEAL ILLNESS AND TO
PREVENT INJURY FROM SHARP OR HEAVY OBJECTS.
4. (U) THE ONE-HOUR PERFORMANCE INCLUDED SEVERAL
QIGONG ACTS. ONE PERFORMER STOOD ON EGGS WITHOUT
BREAKING THEM. ANOTHER DANCED BAREFOOT ON A BED OF
BROKEN GLASS. YET ANOTHER PERFORMER LAY ON A BOARD OF
UPRIGHT NAILS; SHE WAS COVERED WITH A BIG ROCK WHICH
WAS THEN SMASHED BY ANOTHER PERFORMER, WITHOUT INJURY
TO THE QIGONG MISTRESS. MASTER DING HUA AMAZED THE
CROWD BY BREAKING A HUGE ROCK IN HALF WITH A KARATE
KICK.
5. (U) A VARIETY OF OTHER ACTS -- A HOUDINI-LIKE MAGIC
PERFORMANCE, A FLYING TRAPEZE, BALANCING ACTS, CLOWNS,
ACROBATICS PERFORMED ON HORSES RACING AROUND THE SMALL
RING INSIDE THE TENT -- ALL KEPT THE AUDIENCE
ENTERTAINED. EVERYONE LEFT WITH THE FEELING THAT
THEIR 1.5 YUAN (ABOUT THE COST OF TWO MOVIES) HAD BEEN
WELL-SPENT. THIS CIRCUS HAD A SENSE OF IMMEDIACY NOT
EASY TO FIND IN BARNUM AND BAILEY'S. AS THE HORSES
RACED AROUND THE RING, THE SPECTATORS COULD FEEL THE
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000200280001-5