Where is Kunqu Opera in China?

Kunqu Opera is a local opera in Kunshan, Suzhou.

Kunqu opera can be roughly divided into three parts-drama literature (poetry), drama characters (dance) and drama music (song). To appreciate Kunqu opera, we should understand this art from these three directions.

Kunqu Opera, formerly known as "Kunshan Tune" and "Kunqu Opera", is an ancient opera tune and genre in China. It has been called "Kunqu Opera" since the Qing Dynasty, and it is also called "Kunqu Opera" now. Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest traditional operas in China, and it is also a treasure of traditional culture and art in China, especially traditional opera art, and it is called an "orchid" in a hundred gardens.

Kunqu Opera was produced in Kunshan, Suzhou as early as the end of Yuan Dynasty (14 century). It, Haiyan originated in Zhejiang, Yu Yaoqiang originated in Jiangxi, and Yiyang Opera originated in Jiangxi. Known as the four major operas in Ming Dynasty, it belongs to the Southern Opera system.

Kunshan dialect began as a folk song ditty. At first, its distribution area was limited to Suzhou, but during the Wanli period, it spread from Suzhou to the south of the Yangtze River and the north of Qiantang River, and also flowed into Beijing during the Wanli period. In this way, Kunshan Opera became the most influential vocal opera from the middle of Ming Dynasty to the middle of Qing Dynasty.

Kunqu opera is the most influential drama from the middle of Ming Dynasty to the middle of Qing Dynasty. Many operas are developed on the basis of Kunqu Opera, which is called "the father and teacher of all kinds of operas" and "the mother of China operas". Immediately, Wuxi Kunqu Opera Society played a role in the prosperity and promotion of Kunqu Opera.

Kunqu Opera is a kind of opera with the most complete performance system in the history of China opera. It has a deep foundation and rich heritage. It is the result of the high development of China's traditional culture and art, and occupies an important position in the history of China's literature, drama, music and dance.

The performance of Kunqu Opera also has its own unique system and style. Its greatest characteristics are strong lyricism, delicate movements and ingenious and harmonious combination of song and dance. From the linguistic point of view, the play was originally divided into Nanqu and Beiqu: Suzhou dialect was the main part in Nankun, and Bai Yun and Bai Jing were the main parts in Beikun.

Judging from the historical development of Kunqu Opera, 400 years before18th century was a period of gradual maturity and prosperity of Kunqu Opera. During this period, Kunqu opera has been showing people all kinds of customs in the world in a perfect way.

It is this rich and beautiful performance atmosphere and arty pursuit that makes Kunqu opera more and more elegant and difficult to understand. /kloc-In the late 8th century, local operas began to rise, which broke the long-standing performance pattern. The development of traditional Chinese opera has also changed from aristocratic to popular, and Kunqu opera has begun to decline.

In the mid-20th century, the decline of Kunqu opera became more obvious, and many Kunqu artists turned to perform popular Peking Opera. 1949 with the founding of New China, China's traditional opera has been vigorously supported and revitalized, and Kunqu opera has been fortunate to be reborn. During the period of 1956, the fifteen biographies adapted and performed by Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe had a wide influence throughout the country. Premier Zhou once said with emotion: "A play saved a play." Since then, Kunqu Opera Troupe has been restored in many parts of the country.

On 2001May 18, UNESCO published the first batch of "representative works of human oral and intangible heritage", including China's Kunqu opera art, and China became one of the first 19 countries to receive this honor.