Dapingdiao
01 · Historical Records
Dapingdiao was originally called Pingdiao; because its vocal register is lower than that of the “high tune” (Shandong bangzi) it is called “pingdiao”, and it is now generally known as “Dapingdiao”. The genre has a long history and is found in northern Henan, Shandong and southern Hebei. Drawing on the Shandong volume of the Annals of Chinese Xiqu and Chengwu county cultural materials, it was already current in south-western Shandong by the turn of the Ming and Qing, Chengwu being one of the important counties of the Hedong ping line; professional troupes succeeded one another in the late Qing and early Republic, and after 1949 the Chengwu county Dapingdiao troupe continued professional performance.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Dapingdiao is commonly staged in more than one hundred and eighty pieces. It takes its name Pingdiao because its vocal register is lower than that of the “high tune” (Shandong bangzi), and it is now generally known as “Dapingdiao”. Its singing belongs to the banqiang system and has absorbed the finest points of other genres, its phrasing plaintive yet high and bright and its styles varied; its accompanying dance is distinctive and plays an irreplaceable role in the study of ancient folk operatic music, offering lasting reference for Chinese national music. The Chengwu county Dapingdiao troupe performs continuously and has repeatedly won awards at provincial and municipal opera festivals. Chengwu county Dapingdiao has a complete range of sheng, jing and dan roles, its recitation uses the south-western Shandong dialect, and it preserves a large number of plays transplanted from Shandong bangzi and Yuju and localised, forming a local style of bright singing and brisk rhythm.
Shou Jiang Wei (Winning Over Jiang Wei)
A frequently staged traditional Dapingdiao play drawn from the Three Kingdoms cycle and a major vehicle for the xusheng role.
Xia Gaoping (Descending on Gaoping)
A frequently staged traditional Dapingdiao play on a historical campaign.
Guai Zhouli (The Runaway Sisters-in-Law)
A traditional domestic sketch of Dapingdiao, showing the genre's strength in rustic subjects.
Da Dengzhou (Attacking Dengzhou)
A traditional Dapingdiao play whose martial scenes employ real weapons, expressing the genre's bold style.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Dapingdiao has three main schools—Hedong ping, eastern-road ping and western-road ping—and Chengwu county Dapingdiao belongs to the Hedong ping, which has produced such well-known artists as Niu Yinhe, Niu Yinhai, Shao Bingyu, Niu Guangxuan and Ma Mingluan. The Hedong ping has formed different troupe lineages in the counties of south-western Shandong; the Chengwu line is noted for its bright singing and rich repertory, sharing an origin with the Dongming and Heze line yet with its own character. Dapingdiao has three main schools—Hedong ping, eastern-road ping and western-road ping—and Chengwu county Dapingdiao belongs to the Hedong ping, which has produced such well-known artists as Niu Yinhe, Niu Yinhai, Shao Bingyu, Niu Guangxuan and Ma Mingluan. The Hedong ping has formed different troupe lineages in the counties of south-western Shandong; the Chengwu line is noted for its bright singing and rich repertory, sharing an origin with the Dongming and Heze line yet with its own character, its troupes performing mainly at temple fairs in the county town and surrounding townships and preserving a number of traditional serial and martial plays.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao · Dapingdiao.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Yet because of social change and the impact of a pluralistic entertainment industry, Dapingdiao's space for activity is shrinking sharply and talent is draining away; the genre faces a severe situation and urgent protection and transmission are needed. As an important branch of the Hedong ping, Chengwu Dapingdiao preserves the varied forms of local performance, its drum-and-gong and dance arrangements being distinctive among the pingdiao troupes of south-western Shandong; facing the impact of diversified entertainment, the Chengwu county cultural centre sustains the genre by supporting troupe performance, training young actors and recording and collating traditional plays.
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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