Xiangsheng (), also known as crosstalk or comic dialogue, is a traditional performing art in Chinese comedy, and one of the most popular elements in Chinese culture. It is typically performed as a dialogue between two performers, or rarely as a monologue by a solo performer (similar to most forms of stand-up comedy in Western culture), or even less frequently, as a group act by multiple performers. The Xiangsheng language, rich in puns and allusions, is delivered in a rapid, bantering style, typically in the Beijing dialect (or in Mandarin Chinese with a strong northern accent). The acts would sometimes include singing, Chinese rapping, and musical instruments. Xiangsheng has unmistakable connections with the vaudeville Double act that developed in approximately the same era. Some Westerners have studied the art of Xiangsheng. One Canadian student of Xiangsheng, Mark Rowswell, who uses the stage name of Dashan, has said that the closest English equivalent is "Who's on First?", a sketch by Abbott and Costello. However, many acts in vaudeville and radio double acts, as well as the screen comedy dialogue that evolved from them, are similar to Xiangsheng in their formulae. Format Modern Xiangsheng comprises four classic skills: Speaking (simplified Chinese: 说; traditional Chinese: 說; pinyin: shuō): to tell a story, which is the pragmatic mechanism of the humor (i.e. making jokes or using tongue-twisters). Imitating (simplified Chinese: 学; traditional Chinese: 學; pinyin: xué): includes Kouji, accents, dialects, and other sounds, as well as imitating the "singing" and actions of specific characters in traditional Chinese operas such as Peking opera, Pingxi, and Bangzi. Teasing (Chinese: 逗; pinyin: dòu): to make a joke—tease is the soul of Xiangsheng. Singing (Chinese: 唱; pinyin: chàng): only Taiping lyrics can be considered as singing in Xiangsheng. Xiangsheng is most commonly performed by two actors. The leading actor is called Dougen (simplified Chinese: 逗哏; traditional Chinese: 逗哏; pinyin: dòugén) and the supporting actor is called Penggen (simplified Chinese: 捧哏; traditional Chinese: 捧哏; pinyin: pěnggén). History Origins Xiangsheng is generally thought to have originated in the late Qing Dynasty, particularly during the rules of the Xianfeng Emperor and the Tongzhi Emperor in the mid-1800s, although its roots may extend as far back as the Ming Dynasty. It began as a form of street performance, incorporating joke-telling, comedic banter, imitations, or borrowing from other performance arts, such as Peking opera, all with the express purpose of making audiences laugh.