Chen Pao-kuei (陳寶貴), a preserver of the traditional performing art “liam kua (唸歌),” passed away on Nov. 24 at the age of 86. Upon hearing this news, Minister of Culture Li Yuan expressed his deepest condolences and commended Chen’s lifelong devotion to preserving and transmitting this traditional art.
Liam kua, also known as chant-song, a traditional performing art practiced in Taiwan for over three centuries, blends music, singing, and storytelling.
Born in 1939, Chen grew up surrounded by traditional opera and was deeply influenced by nanguan (南管) and Taiwanese opera. In addition to her outstanding singing techniques, she excelled in storytelling, which shaped her distinctive performing style. She met her performing partner Chen Mei-chu (陳美珠) in her teenage years, and despite being illiterate, both trained diligently for their performances. Renowned for their memorization of more than a hundred songs and their improvisational ability, they became known as the “treasures of Taiwanese liam kua.”
In 1989, the duo brought their performances to television, receiving positive reviews for their superb vocals, storytelling, and versatility in portraying diverse roles. As the first of their kind to introduce this traditional art to television, they achieved a significant breakthrough and were recognized by the New Taipei Government as preservers of liam kua in 2016.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Chen remained active in stage performances in her later years and served as a consultant for the Taiwan Liam-kua Troupe (台灣唸歌團), teaching yueqin playing and singing across various regions of the country. Her dedication to promoting Taiwan’s traditional performing arts has left a profound and lasting impact on the field.