The Huyan Family Generals

Introduction

A classic long tale of Xihe drum balladry whose 1957 radio serial by Wang Yanfen caused a sensation

The Huyan Family Generals is a classic long tale of Xihe drum balladry, named as a representative work in the national heritage entries for both Hejian in Hebei and Tianjin. Its story is that of the Qing novel printed in the Qianlong reign under the same name: the descendants of Huyan Zan, a founding general of the Northern Song, are framed by the Pang family and their clan is put to death, until the survivors, helped by Lord Bao among others, clear their name and take revenge. Xihe drum balladry is told by one performer beating copper clappers and a drum, with a second musician on the sanxian, and it took shape in the Daoguang and Xianfeng reigns. In 1957 Wang Yanfen told The Huyan Family Generals as a serial on Hebei People's Radio, and it caused a sensation.