Hou Baolin
侯宝林
Biography
Hou Baolin was the most influential cross-talk (xiangsheng) master of the 20th century, elevating the folk comedic form to a respected performing art. Renowned for his sharp wit, linguistic precision, and social satire, he created hundreds of classic routines that remain part of the xiangsheng repertoire. He mentored generations of performers through the China Broadcasting Art Troupe.
Domains of Mastery
Territory
Region
North China
Location
Beijing
Level
master
Status
deceased
Heritage DNA
Classification
Grand Master
Status
deceased
Year of Birth
1917
Age
109 years
Location
Beijing
Region
North China
Next Master
Chang Xiangyu
常香玉
Relationship Constellation
How Hou Baolin connects to the broader network of heritage.
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