Living and expectations

Guo Qilin, son of traditional Chinese art master in cross-talk. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Cross-talk comedian

In Journey to the West, the Monkey King is kept in line by a Golden Hoop on his head, which becomes tighter when an incantation is read by his master, causing his head to hurt.

Similarly, cross-talk performer and comedian Guo Qilin is also weighed down by his family's artistic legacy.

And when he tries to break free from tradition and experiment, he is questioned and doubted not just by the audience but also his father, Guo Degang, a famous performer and comedian, who is known for reviving the traditional art form and attracting young audiences back to the theaters.

"I rarely praise Guo Qilin. He is my son and he carries much more responsibility," says Guo Degang, 44.

"Parental fame and wealth may make children less likely to make an effort. So, I don't want my son to feel pampered or privileged."

Chinese cross-talk, or xiangsheng, began during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in northern China and is usually performed in teahouses.

Guo Degang started studying the genre at age 7 and in 1995, he left his hometown in Tianjin to open his xiangsheng club, called Deyunshe, in Beijing.

Thanks to his club's popularity across the country then, Guo Degang became as popular as a movie star.

He later opened a xiangsheng club in Melbourne, Australia, and invested and appeared in several blockbuster Chinese movies.

For his 21-year-old son, Guo Qilin, who was born in Tianjin and lived with his grandparents before he moved to Beijing at age 12, becoming such a performer was always a dream.

"I have no problem with my father's success. It's great. Everybody should maintain a high standard in whatever they are doing. So, if I am given an opportunity because of my father's fame, I will take the opportunity and prove that I deserve to be there," says Guo Qilin.

Recalling his childhood, Guo Qilin says that he did not talk much to his father then.

"He had many students. We were about the same age, and we lived and played together. Sometimes, I felt like I was just one of his many sons, the least favorite one," says Guo Qilin.

"My father spoke to me like an adult. He would scold me for even little things but he would be very nice to the other boys."

After school, Guo Qilin learned the techniques of xiangsheng from a performer Yu Qian, who has been Guo Degang's onstage partner for decades.

Speaking about Guo Qilin, Yu says: "People usually think that the career path for a celebrity's child is smooth, but it's not true."

Guo Qilin went through hard times when he began learning xiangsheng. He first imitated his father's artistic style and it took him a long time before he developed his own, says Yu. "But what impresses me most about him is that the young man values the art like his father."

At 15, Guo Qilin decided to quit school and focus on his xiangsheng skills. For a better image onstage, Guo Qilin then lost 15 kilograms within a year. And, he also began to write original material, which reflected how the younger generation felt.

From May to September, Guo Qilin, along with his onstage partner, Yan Hexiang, will tour Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Tianjin and two other cities.

Commenting on his son, Guo Degang says: "When I was 21, I was still a struggling performer. But Guo Qilin is now able to showcase his skills in front of audiences across China. It is his chance, but is also a challenge. It is his turn now to show what he has got."