Chen Siwen

Biography

Chen Siwen was born in 1920 in Donghu Village, Chaoyang, Guangdong Province, China. Raised in a farming and merchant family, he developed a passion for classical literature from a young age. In his youth, he managed a pharmacy before co-founding the Dongsheng Amateur Drama Troupe in 1947, serving as its president and actor, performing plays and small Chaozhou operas. After the troupe disbanded in 1950, he worked as a primary school teacher in his hometown. During the land reform of 1952, he was persecuted due to his family background, his property was confiscated, and he was sent back to his village for labor reform; his wife died under harsh conditions. Forced to leave his hometown, he went to Shantou to do manual labor. In 1954, inspired by a street storyteller, Chen Siwen began trying oral storytelling in Shantou, narrating the classic novel San Men Jie. His initial success encouraged him, and he started performing at various locations in the city, drawing crowds of hundreds or even thousands of listeners. He became one of the most famous folk storytelling artists in the Chaoshan region, using the local Chaozhou dialect to deliver folk tales and humorous stories with rhythmic, vivid performances. Chen Siwen continued his folk art until his death in 2011, leaving a rich cultural legacy in the oral heritage of the Chaoshan area.