中國空竹藝術

文、譯/孫曄

中國空竹藝術

Chinese yo-yo combines art, culture and exercise

文、譯/孫曄

天津武清中央公園一位愛好者在練習抖空竹

空竹，也以“中國悠悠球”而聞名，雜技演員用繩子抖空竹，發出蜂鳴聲。

Kongzhu, also known as the Chinese yo-yo, works as a diabolo spinning and buzzing like an acrobat on a string.

這種藝術可追溯到一千多年前。它從貴族和達官要人流傳下來，變為一種家庭娛樂游戲。它在明朝（1368-1644)被稱為“輕擊鈴”，在中國南部叫作“振鈴”。它由鄉下特定的竹植物材料做成。

It’s an art that dates back more than 1,000 years. It has passed down from the hands of lords anddignitaries to become a household pastime.It was the “clap-less bells” during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and “vibrating bells” in southern China.It’s made of the country’s signature plant - bamboo.

玩空竹有多種方法，已有超過一千種的玩法且數字仍在增長。 這些足夠讓它成為國家非物質遺產。

Kongzhu is versatile and has more than 1,000 sets of movements. The number is still growing.These are enough to make it a national intangible heritage.

天津武清區業余空竹表演團團長諸葛向武說,“五月花開”是他永遠記得的最美的空竹表演。花就是中國空竹。其中的5個，每一個有不同的顏色，一名表演者掌控并同時旋轉，是為慶祝2008年奧運會設計的一套動作。

“The most beautiful playing of kongzhu that will forever remain with me is ‘five blossomingflowers’.” says Zhuge Xiangwu, head of an amateur kongzhu performance troupe in Wuqing,Tianjin.”The flowers” are Chinese yo-yos. Five of them, each with a different color, are handled by justone performer and revolve at the same time. It’s a set of movements designed for the celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games.

諸葛先生的表演團每年都會去龍潭公園廟會慶祝中國農歷新年，變戲法和抖空竹從清朝（1644-1911）就變成鄉村新年廟會的流行節目。

Zhuge’s troupe goes to Beijing’s Longtan Park fair every year to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, as juggling and playing kongzhu has been a popular program at the country’s new year fairs since the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

諸葛先生說，空竹很有趣，能驅除煩惱。他說，練習空竹的另一個優點很明顯。它是一項鍛煉全身肌肉和訓練敏捷的綜合運動。你需要正確使用你的肌肉力量，抖空竹時反應迅速并盡最大努力跟隨它。

“Kongzhu is fun and it can drive your worries away.” Zhuge says. Another perk of practicing Chinese yo-yo is evident. It’s a comprehensive exercise that moves one’s various muscles and trains one’s alertness.”You have to use your muscle power in the right way, react quickly to the spinning diabolo and try your best to go with it.” he says.

在他的表演團中，大部分表演者有60或大于60歲。現在，包括諸葛的團隊，空竹團隊主要由退休市民組成。諸葛先生和他的團員每天在武清文化公園表演和訓練四到五個小時。

Most performers in his troupe are 60 or older. Today, kongzhu groups are composed mainly of retired citizens, including Zhuge’s group. Zhuge and his fellows perform and practice each day for four to five hours at Wuqing’s Culture Park.

對于諸葛先生來說，他們的退休計劃很簡單。“我們歡迎任何對此感興趣的人。畢竟，學習這門藝術并不難。”

For Zhuge, their recruiting strategy is simple,”We welcome anyone who’s interested. After all, it’s not hard to pick up the art.”