1. The origin of the name circus
A circus is a group organization that performs circus performances. It originated from the gladiator Colosseum in ancient Rome and was very bloody and cruel. At that time, there was a saying that "only bread and circuses" could make the Romans happy. In English, the circus is called "Circus", which comes from the Latin word "circle" and refers to the amphitheater.
The modern circus also performs in a circular venue, so it evolved into the meaning of "circus". The main content of the circus is animal performances. It is called "circus" because the protagonist of the earliest performance was a horse, and other animal actors appeared later.
2. Circus
1. Circus is one of the categories of acrobatics. It originally referred to performances performed by people riding horses, but is now a collective name for performances by various wild beasts and tame birds. It refers to comprehensive performances that focus on horse training, horsemanship, large and medium-sized animal shows, and high-altitude shows, including some acrobatics, magic, and comedy. They are mostly performed in horse circles in large venues (circuses, sheds, stadiums, or squares).
2. There are actors directing animals to perform various skills and movements, or actors performing various skills on animals. Circus in a broad sense also includes acrobatics. Circus is sometimes used in conjunction with acrobatics.
3. The term circus first appeared in China in Han Huan Kuan’s "On Salt and Iron". Ancient circus specifically refers to horse training and horsemanship skills. Circus in the modern narrow sense refers specifically to horse training and equestrianism. In 2008, the circus was approved by the State Council and included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
Extended information:
1. On the morning of September 27, 2007, the Chinese Acrobats Association held a grand naming ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Yongqiao District, Suzhou City, Anhui Province It was officially awarded the title of "Circus Hometown of China", becoming the first and only county in my country to receive this honor.
2. The predecessor of Yongqiao circus art is folk acrobatics that began in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, it had reached considerable scale. Since the 1920s, in the Punggou, Taogou, and Liugou areas of Yongqiao District, acrobatic celebrities have taken the lead in introducing horse, monkey, dog and other animal performances into their performances. They were very popular with the audience, and later began to try acrobatic performances. to tame animals, and achieved results quickly.
3. By the end of the 1930s, performances such as bears standing and walking, sheep pedaling vases, monkeys pulling carts, tigers drilling rings, and puppies recognizing numbers had matured, and circus art in the true sense of the word was established in Yongqiao District. This gradually formed.
Reference: Circus Baidu Encyclopedia