世上再無下回分解 評書大師單田芳病逝
One of China's top pingshu masters, Shan Tianfang, died at the age of 84 in Beijing on Tuesday.
本週二，我國評書大師單田芳在北京逝世，享年84歲。The traditional Chinese art form, pingshu, or storytelling, was born in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has been popular with audiences mostly in northern China.
評書這種中國傳統藝術形式誕生於宋朝，主要受到我國北部地區觀眾的喜愛。With a backdrop -- usually a pair of screen doors, a table, a folding fan and a block of wood (known as xingmu) -- Shan won a large base of enthusiastic fans for his solid techniques and improvisation, describing the scenes in the book in vivid and captivating ways, like movie clips.
通常以一對屏風、一張桌子、一把摺扇、一塊醒木為背景，單田芳憑藉紮實的技巧和即興演繹，將書中的場面描繪得如電影片段般生動逼真，引人入勝，虜獲了大批熱情的粉絲。
Born as Shan Chuanzhong in Yingkou, Liaoning, Shan was influenced by his family, most of whom were local folk artists. Shan launched his career as a pingshu performer in 1953 at age 19.
單田芳本名單傳忠，遼寧營口人，家人多是當地民間藝術家，單田芳深受家庭薰陶。1953年，19歲的單田芳走上了評書表演的道路。He made his stage debut when he was 24 and soon rose to fame by performing classic pingshu works, including "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties". In 2007, he announced his retirement.
他24歲首次登台演出，很快通過表演《三國演義》、《隋唐演義》等傳統評書作品成名。2007年，單田芳宣佈收山。In 2012, Shan won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 7th Peony Awards for China Quyi -- a general term for traditional folk art forms, including ballad singing, storytelling and crosstalk.
2012年，單田芳在第七屆中國曲藝牡丹獎上獲得終身成就獎。曲藝是評彈、評書和相聲等傳統民間藝術形式的統稱。Shan's story accompanied many Chinese to grow up and Shan will remain as a legend in Chinese people's heart.
單田芳的評書伴隨了許多國人的成長，而他永遠都會是中國人民心中的一個傳奇。
