Shandong Qinshu-A Kind Of Intangible Cultural Heritage To Be Lost

Shandong Qinshu (a story-telling form, mainly in song, with musical accompaniment) is one of the most representative art forms of Shandong province. With a history of more than two hundred years, it has undergone three stages up to date, namely: the recent period, the modern period and the contemporary period, with each stage having its own characteristics. As far as art ontology is concerned, Shandong Qinshu is a treasure of Chinese folk art, with its long history, rich music resources, flexible music forms, various art schools, unique art manifestations and culture wealth. As for its culture value, Shandong Qinshu has formed its unique art manner with the help of feature local accent, and enriched the living atmosphere by virtue of the modest dialects. Besides, it bases on the local conditions and customs of Shandong province, and shows the distinct local features of this area in its content manifestations. So it exerts the important roles of entertainment and education in the aspect of the spiritual lives of Shandong people; It also has powerful regenerating function. In 2006, Shandong Qinshu was selected into the first batch of state-level intangible cultural heritage lists and in January of 2007, it was ranked as the intangible cultural heritage of Shandong province. Like many other intangible cultural heritages, Shandong Qinshu has already past its prime stage and begins to decline. Probing into the reasons and problems for its unfavorable situations, we can see that there are objective environmental influences as well as problems of this industry. Fortunately, our country and province have paid much attention to the development of nonmaterial cultural heritage, which paves the way for the protection and development of Shandong Qinshu.To brace up and develop Shandong Qinshu, we should pay attention to its inheritance and reformation. In respect of inheritance, we should save and protect the relevant materials and reinforce their management, resume the artistic schools of Shandong Qinshu, so that we can have a better understanding of Shandong Qinshu's values, cultivate its audience and expand its inheritance space. Thus, Shandong Qinshu can be passed on to our offspring successfully and smoothly. As for reformation, the current time situation renders the old art forms lag behind the modern aesthetics. At this moment, Shandong Qinshu should actively exhibit its advantages, inspiring and moving people with its healthy and high-spirited contents as well as its rich art beauty. The creators of Shandong Qinshu should also follow the time pace with their open vision and mind. On one hand, affirm the existence value of Shandong Qinshu, and on the other hand, through the modification and perfection of the art ontology, achieve the transcendence of the former Qinshu to coruscate its vitality in the process of reformation.This paper consists of the following parts: introduction, four chapters and conclusion. Mainly from perspectives of history, art study and folk culture study, the writer attempts to: review the development of Shandong Qinshu; introduce its art manifestations; expound its cultural characteristics and functions; analyze its current situations; and finally, put forward the countermeasures concerning its protection and development.