Dapingdiao
01 · Historical Records
Dapingdiao is also called pingdiao, dabangxi (big bangzi opera) and dayoubang (big oil bangzi); it is mainly current in northern Henan, southern Hebei, south-western Shandong, eastern Henan and northern Anhui. It originated in the middle of the Ming dynasty and has a history of more than five hundred years.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The vocal music of Dapingdiao belongs to the bangzi (bangziqiang) system; because its pitch is lower than that of Shandong bangzi, Henan bangzi and Hebei bangzi, it is called pingdiao or Dapingdiao. Its musical ban-style (banshi) structure is largely the same as that of Yuju, while its artistic style is rougher and more fiery than Yuju. The vocal style of Dapingdiao is broadly the same as that of Shandong bangzi, but the singing generally uses the natural (true) voice; only at the opening of ban styles such as manban (slow ban) and guaitoudings (turning-the-head-nail) does the tail passage use a very high falsetto. Its principal accompanying instruments are the daxian, erxian, sanxian, the big bangzi clapper and the great brass horn (dahao). Among the role types of Dapingdiao the black-face (heilian) and red-face (honglian) roles hold the leading position, forming an important characteristic of the genre. Its performance is magnificent in scale and grand in stage array, giving equal weight to singing, acting, recitation and combat; it is rough and unconstrained, with hardness tempered by softness.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Water Margin
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Romance of the Sui and Tang
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Yang Family Generals
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Cases of Judge Bao
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Going Down to Gaoping
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Going Down to Yanjing
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Going Down to Jiangnan
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Revolt at the Yanghe
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Jinyang Pass
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Revolt at Xuzhou
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Capture of Jiang Wei
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Battle of Luoyang
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Qin Xianglian
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Beheading of the King of Zhao
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Tale of the Golden Whip
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Three Summons
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
The Fire Dragon Array
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Dapingdiao exercises a wide influence over the vast region north of the Yellow River and has gradually formed three branches, namely eastern-road pingdiao, western-road pingdiao and Hedong pingdiao.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Over its long development Dapingdiao accumulated a rich repertoire; by statistical reckoning there were some six hundred plays, of which only two hundred-odd survive. Their content is drawn chiefly from such novels as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Romance of the Sui and Tang, The Yang Family Generals and Cases of Judge Bao; most are “paodai xi” (robed-and-belted plays) centred on black-face and red-face characters, while plays drawn from ordinary folk life are comparatively few. Regularly performed works include Going Down to Gaoping, Going Down to Yanjing, Going Down to Jiangnan, Revolt at the Yanghe, Jinyang Pass, Revolt at Xuzhou, The Capture of Jiang Wei, The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers, The Battle of Luoyang, Qin Xianglian, The Beheading of the King of Zhao, Zhao Gongming Descends the Mountain, The Tale of the Golden Whip, Zhang Fei Rolling the Drum, The Three Summons and The Fire Dragon Array. Dapingdiao has important academic value for research into the history of local music and of operatic theatre in Henan, and deserves attention. Since the 1990s, with the decline of the theatre market, Dapingdiao has suffered shocks without precedent; its audience has shrunk day by day, the survival of its troupes and their performance conditions are harsh, and there is a shortage of performing talents to succeed them. This ancient genre now faces the danger of being lost and urgently needs rescue. Wei Shouxian (as recorded in the official file of the associated inheritor): Male, of Han nationality, born in 1942, native of Huaxian, Henan. Wei Shouxian studied from childhood under Hao Jingwen, a well-known Dapingdiao xusheng (bearded male role), followed him for more than ten years and mastered many Dapingdiao performance techniques. He has more than fifty years of Dapingdiao performance behind him since first taking the stage, and after retiring in 2000 he still performs with the troupe, mainly coaching young actors. His performance technique is highly accomplished and he is able to play every role type; his singing is plain and unadorned, with accurate diction and true, rounded tones, and he is honoured as the “red-face king” of Dapingdiao. His representative works include Searching the Palace for Hai Rui and Storming Youzhou. Representative inheritor of Dapingdiao in the second batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage items, and a national third-class actor.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Zhang Xiangbin 02-0489
- Wei Shouxian 02-0490
- Du Xuezhou 02-0491
- Cao Xiuzhi 02-0492
- He Xiliang 03-1000
- Li Deping 04-1612
- Wu Congyin 05-2323
- Zhoukuisheng
- Han Xuerong
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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