Minnan.com, April 5th news yesterday was tomb sweeping day. It was 3 o’clock in the morning and it was not yet Dawn. Chen Xiaochun, a 56-year-old professional crying man, had already taken out his pastel outfit and washed and dressed seriously, then he would go to the home of a family of dead people to cry. The so-called “crying spirit” means crying bitterly in front of the coffin or spirit position of the dead, expressing the missing of the dead relatives. Crying spirit people are called “crying brother” in Fuzhou dialect “. Chen Xiaochun entered the business at the age of 21, from Xiao Chen to Lao Chen, and has become one of the few inheritors of this custom nowadays.
Lao Chen integrated some movements in Fujian Opera into the crying spirit. The sad crying and movements made the listener burst into tears.
Lao Chen used some costumes of Fujian opera to make up for himself
Integrate Fujian opera art “crying brother” to cry out fame
In a white coat, the head is in a bun, the face is painted white, and the eyes are red. When crying spirit tears, it can leave obvious tears. Old Chen can finish the costume in less than 20 minutes in this drama.
Before the funeral of the deceased, the MC announced that the funeral had begun. Erhu played, and old Chen Ying knelt down in front of the statue of the deceased, knelt and walked, and sang the eulogy loudly. Then he burst into tears with rolling, kneeling and waiting. The crying sounds sad and moving, the movements are full of visual impact, and the people who hear it all wipe their tears emotionally.
The content of the eulogy is compiled by Lao Chen on the spot according to the information such as the date of the deceased’s birthday and the marriage situation, and then sung in the form of Fujian opera singing. The content is mostly to recall the deceased and express the missing feelings of relatives. A crying spirit often lasts for more than 1 hour, which cannot be interrupted. It can last for more than 3 hours at a time.
“It is considered that I have made a reputation here, and many people have found it.” speaking of my career, Lao Chen is not taboo, but reveals some pride. Lao Chen said that when he was 21 years old, he learned from a master of Changle, and a “cry” was 35 years. At that time, the master only cried and read words, because Lao Chen was very fond of Fujian opera. He tried to integrate drama dress and body movements when crying spirit. He didn’t expect that he was not only more artistic, but also more emotional. Therefore, the crying spirit with Fujian Opera characteristics became the “signboard” of Lao Chen “.
Because it was quite famous among the older generation in Fuzhou, Lao Chen said that there were still many old people who felt that when their deadline was coming, they specially told their children that they would invite “crying brothers” after their death. This “crying brother” refers to him.
There are only 9 people who cry for each income.
During the Spring Festival to Qingming Festival, it was the busiest time for Lao Chen. In the most Month, Lao Chen wanted to “cry” for more than 20 times.
Don’t think crying spirit is just crying so simply. It is not good for voice and eyes to cry and sing for several hours. But for decades, old Chen’s voice was still loud and his eyesight did not change. Lao Chen said that he didn’t have a special maintenance method. He just drank more boiled water, avoided spicy and stimulating food, and kept the habit of getting up early for a walk at 6 o’clock. When the reporter asked whether such intensive crying would cause depression, Lao Chen said that he had already been used to this profession. After crying, he went home to have a rest and listened to Fujian Opera and adjusted it.
At present, there are only 9 crying people in Fuzhou. Lao Chen said that except him, the other 8 people are his disciples. The youngest one is in his 30 s and the older one is in his 60 s, both men and women.
Old Chen’s son did not inherit his father’s profession, and he thought it was still a little “dishonorable” for young people “. For this job, Chen Xiaochun did not find it difficult to say, “relatives and friends can’t cry in front of the hall for a while, but it is very painful to hold their hearts. Through this form, I guided the sadness in the hearts of all people and sang it with words in my heart, that’s all.” Lao Chen said that he would stick to it until the day when he couldn’t make a sound or jump. (Haidu reporter Xu Feng Xiao Chun Daowen/picture)