Table of Contents
The Xianzhou Luofu: Performance Art Special Feature
The information here comes from a post made by the official account on Hoyolab made on 02 August 2023. This image has been broken into pieces to better organise it.
Storytelling, Crosstalk, Acrobatics, Foxian Drum Chanting, Vidyadhara Elegies, and Xianzhou Chordophone…
On the topic of culture and entertainment, the Xianzhou Luofu has preserved several forms of performance art. These elegant classics are historically authentic, and Trailblazers will be able to experience the charms of ancient times after just one performance.
Storytelling
If there is a format through which the artist can portray anything with naught but their own bodies, then it must be every Xianzhou resident's favorite performance art: storytelling. Storytelling lets you hear supernatural stories, detective mysteries, and legends of chivalry; learn about the histories of rulers, heroes, and villains; you can even hear the more down-to-earth stories of everyday life. Stories from millennia past can be brought to life through verbal performances, which are so immersive that it feels like you are experiencing them yourself.
Pom-Pom: You can find Mr Xiyan engaged in storytelling at the Sleepless Earl in Central Starskiff Haven~.
Crosstalk
Relaxed and Humorous, Enjoyed by People from All Walks of Life
Trailblazers who want to take a moment to unwind can head to a teahouse, order a nice pot of hot tea, and slump in a chair as they listen to a crosstalk performance. After all, there's hardly anyone who doesn't love crosstalk. Of the two comedians on stage, one delivers the jokes and the other delivers the punchlines.
This back-and-forth exchange brings interesting and amusing stories to life. The spectacular coordination and unique narrative tempo are what makes crosstalk such a humorous and entertaining art.
Pom-Pom: Crosstalk enthusiasts are often practicing near the Starskiff Jetty in Central Starskiff Haven. Trailblazers should go take a look!
Acrobatics
If there is any traditional art on the Xianzhou that can be considered almost as old as time, it would have to be acrobatics. Long before the Xianzhou natives, Foxians, and Vidyadhara came together on the Xianzhou, each had their own acrobatic traditions. In order to dazzle audiences, acrobatics have a diverse range of techniques. Some techniques are intense and highly demanding feats of physicality, while others are ingenious magics that trick the eyes. The latter type of techniques are often more well-received, since fresh and unusual content will always pique the audience's curiosity.
Pom-Pom: I heard that there's an acrobatics expert by the name of Guinaifen. Maybe Trailblazers will have the chance to meet her!
Xianzhou Chordophone
A Plethora of Moods and Emotions
Xianzhou Chordophone is the solo art of playing the chordophone while singing or speaking along. Compared to the other forms of performance art, the sung and spoken lines are more casual and slang-like in vocabulary. The range of subject matter is also broader, and you can hear any kind of story from heroic epics to tender romances. However, Xianzhou Chordophone is difficult to perform well. Not only does it require excellent eloquence and elocution, it also requires the person to be a highly adept performer. The sole artist has to portray various characters by themselves, with all the roles being distinct and recognizable by the audience. The chordophone's three strings convey hundreds of mods and depict thousands of scenes, expressing tens of thousands of emotions to all.
Pom-Pom: Pom-Pom really wants to hear it too~.
Foxian Drum Chanting
Beautiful Verse and Fiery Drumbeats
If you wish to attend a show by relatively younger performers, Pom-Pom recommends checking out Foxian Drum Chanting. The origin of this art dates back to when the Foxians first joined the Xianzhou Alliance, and Foxian traveling merchants would hit a cooking pot as they called out to promote their wares. The elegant verses of the songs are accompanied by the rhythm of a drum beat, perfectly portraying the Foxians' character of admiring heroism and romance, as well as their love for fierce combat and their passionate temperaments.
Pom-Pom: From inside the pilothouse came the General's battle cry~. I think I heard that line in Starskiff Haven~.
Vidyadhara Elegies
Overwhelming and Everlasting Sorrow
For Trailblazers who don't like to hear stories of suffering and tragedy, Pom-Pom suggests that you turn and run the moment you see a Vidyadhara with castanets in hand!!! After all, the story you'll hear from them… might be too much for soft-hearted Trailblazers to bear. Vidyadhara Elegies are the epitome of the tragedy genre in Xianzhou's traditional arts. The number of stories that actually have a happy ending can be counted on one hand, as most of these elegies will leave you with unresolved emotions.
Pom-Pom: I wonder if Dan Heng knows how to sing these~. We can ask him next time!


