Originating in rural China, Nüshu is the world’s only single-sex language. However, the majority of the global population, including a significant proportion of China, remain completely oblivious to this day. As a result, this risks extinction of not only a unique script, but also thousands of women’s stories. Jiayi Chen is on mission to stop this from happening. Through contemporary dance, spoken word, and song, her show Nüshu: Written for Her, on Her, by Her is powering the charge to protect this women only script.
Self narrated by Jiayi, she gives a voice to her cousin, her grandmother, and the many female ancestors before them who have all been muted and forgotten by China’s patriarchal society. With this, she so beautifully demonstrates the importance of Nüshu to women in rural China as a space for female expression and empowerment. Her choice of words is so carefully crafted for maximum impact, drawing comparisons with women and seashells (China’s first form of currency) and how both of their values depend on their trade.
However, Jiayi’s words wouldn’t be as impactful if it weren’t for the beautiful contemporary dance and performance that teleports the audience into the depths of rural China. On their own, the carefully considered moves are enough to make the performance heartfelt, but the set design and props referencing traditional China really set it apart from the crowd. With a shoji rice paper screen, dancing fans, seashells, and a sheet of silk, the movements become tied to each story, immersing the audience into a world so detached from the busy Edinburgh Fringe.
The most important aspect of Jiayi’s performance though is rooted in a new artistic dimension: writing Nüshu on the skin of her cast. This ensures that throughout the performance, as well as afterwards, the audience will remember these stories and continue to spread their message.
Despite suffering from some small technical issues early on, this performance was so important and impactful, not to mention of such a high calibre, that I would recommend it to anyone looking for something fresh at the Fringe this year.
Nüshu: Written for Her, on Her, by Her is running until 10 August at temple at C ARTS.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Hartley Kemp, provided to The Student as press
