Li Zuxun

01 · Lineage & Regional School

Li Zuxun, Male, Han, from Hubei, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Chu Opera (Ⅳ-58). The tradition is documented in Hubei. Within the regional tradition and school record of Chu Opera in Hubei: The role types of Chu opera are divided chiefly into the three categories of sheng, dan and chou; the other role types too are doubled by actors coming from these three. Chu opera is close to everyday life, keeps pace with the times, and has rich and varied means of expression together with a strong capacity for taking in what it encounters; it fully displays the distinctive character of the local culture of eastern Hubei. Chu opera was formerly known as ohe qiang, the Huangxiao flower drum opera and the Xilu flower drum opera. In the Daoguang reign of the Qing dynasty the ohe qiang then current in eastern Hubei was fused with the mountain songs, daoqing, bamboo-horse dances, stilts and folk storytelling and singing of the Huangpi and Xiaogan area, and out of this fusion an independent local operatic genre with its own vocal system took shape; it was renamed Chu opera in 1926 and by now has a history of more than a hundred and fifty years.

02 · Mastery & Signature Works

The bearer record for Li Zuxun is anchored in the documented technical standards of Chu Opera in Hubei. Within the documented technical tradition of Chu Opera in Hubei: Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Qin Xuemei Diao Xiao (Qin Xuemei in Mourning for Her Mother-in-Law)": About five hundred Chu opera plays survive today and more than two hundred of them are performed regularly; the more important among them include Qin Xuemei Diao Xiao (Qin Xuemei in Mourning for Her Mother-in-Law), Yinping Gongzhu (Princess Yinping), Gan Zhai (Rushing to the Vegetarian Offering), Sha Gou Jing Qi (Killing the Dog to Startle the Wife), San Shi Chou (Feuds of Three Generations), Wu Han Sha Qi (Wu Han Slays His Wife), Cai Mingfeng Ci Dian (Cai Mingfeng Leaves the Inn), Ge Ma (Hemp and Sesame), Bai Ri Yuan (A Hundred Days of Affinity), Jiu Jian Yi (The Nine-Piece Garment), Wu Jin Ji (The Record of Black Gold), Mai Miansha (Selling Cotton Yarn), Ya Nu Gao Zhuang (The Mute Girl Files Her Complaint), Bai Shan Ji (The White Fan), Si Fan (Longing for the Mortal World), Lai Hun (Breaking Off the Marriage), Ji Shui (Drawing Water) and Dong Yong Mai Shen (Dong Yong Sells Himself). "Yinping Gongzhu (Princess Yinping)": About five hundred Chu opera plays survive today and more than two hundred of them are performed regularly; the more important among them include Qin Xuemei Diao Xiao (Qin Xuemei in Mourning for Her Mother-in-Law), Yinping Gongzhu (Princess Yinping), Gan Zhai (Rushing to the Vegetarian Offering), Sha Gou Jing Qi (Killing the Dog to Startle the Wife), San Shi Chou (Feuds of Three Generations), Wu Han Sha Qi (Wu Han Slays His Wife), Cai Mingfeng Ci Dian (Cai Mingfeng Leaves the Inn), Ge Ma (Hemp and Sesame), Bai Ri Yuan (A Hundred Days of Affinity), Jiu Jian Yi (The Nine-Piece Garment), Wu Jin Ji (The Record of Black Gold), Mai Miansha (Selling Cotton Yarn), Ya Nu Gao Zhuang (The Mute Girl Files Her Complaint), Bai Shan Ji (The White Fan), Si Fan (Longing for the Mortal World), Lai Hun (Breaking Off the Marriage), Ji Shui (Drawing Water) and Dong Yong Mai Shen (Dong Yong Sells Himself). "Gan Zhai (Rushing to the Vegetarian Offering)": About five hundred Chu opera plays survive today and more than two hundred of them are performed regularly; the more important among them include Qin Xuemei Diao Xiao (Qin Xuemei in Mourning for Her Mother-in-Law), Yinping Gongzhu (Princess Yinping), Gan Zhai (Rushing to the Vegetarian Offering), Sha Gou Jing Qi (Killing the Dog to Startle the Wife), San Shi Chou (Feuds of Three Generations), Wu Han Sha Qi (Wu Han Slays His Wife), Cai Mingfeng Ci Dian (Cai Mingfeng Leaves the Inn), Ge Ma (Hemp and Sesame), Bai Ri Yuan (A Hundred Days of Affinity), Jiu Jian Yi (The Nine-Piece Garment), Wu Jin Ji (The Record of Black Gold), Mai Miansha (Selling Cotton Yarn), Ya Nu Gao Zhuang (The Mute Girl Files Her Complaint), Bai Shan Ji (The White Fan), Si Fan (Longing for the Mortal World), Lai Hun (Breaking Off the Marriage), Ji Shui (Drawing Water) and Dong Yong Mai Shen (Dong Yong Sells Himself). "Sha Gou Jing Qi (Killing the Dog to Startle the Wife)": About five hundred Chu opera plays survive today and more than two hundred of them are performed regularly; the more important among them include Qin Xuemei Diao Xiao (Qin Xuemei in Mourning for Her Mother-in-Law), Yinping Gongzhu (Princess Yinping), Gan Zhai (Rushing to the Vegetarian Offering), Sha Gou Jing Qi (Killing the Dog to Startle the Wife), San Shi Chou (Feuds of Three Generations), Wu Han Sha Qi (Wu Han Slays His Wife), Cai Mingfeng Ci Dian (Cai Mingfeng Leaves the Inn), Ge Ma (Hemp and Sesame), Bai Ri Yuan (A Hundred Days of Affinity), Jiu Jian Yi (The Nine-Piece Garment), Wu Jin Ji (The Record of Black Gold), Mai Miansha (Selling Cotton Yarn), Ya Nu Gao Zhuang (The Mute Girl Files Her Complaint), Bai Shan Ji (The White Fan), Si Fan (Longing for the Mortal World), Lai Hun (Breaking Off the Marriage), Ji Shui (Drawing Water) and Dong Yong Mai Shen (Dong Yong Sells Himself).

03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status

In 2025, Li Zuxun was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Chu Opera, with Hubei as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Chu Opera in Hubei: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2006 (batch 1), with Hubei as its declared area, and Hubei Xiqu Art Theatre Co., Ltd. as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.

04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier

05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage

National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.

06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography

1. Lizuxun (Hubei) · China ICH Official Project Archive
2. Lizuxun · China ICH Official Archive