Minju Opera
01 · Historical Records
In the late Ming period the Yiyang tune entered central Fujian, where it gradually merged with local dialect tunes and took shape as the jianghu diao (jianghu tune). Troupes performing the jianghu diao — the jianghu troupes — then appeared, together with the pingjiang troupes, whose principal vocal style was the jianghu tune sung in canon. In the late Qing period the pingjiang troupes, the laolao troupes that performed imported vocal styles such as the Kun tune and Hui tune, and the Rulin troupes that performed Rulin drama in Fuzhou merged together, and Minju Opera finally took shape. Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
After the 1911 Revolution Minju Opera entered a flourishing period, with many troupes and a host of outstanding performers appearing, including the 'Four Great Dan Stars' Zheng Yizou, Zeng Yuanfan, Xue Liangfan and Ma Difan, of whom Zheng Yizou was known as the 'Mei Lanfang of Minju'. The musical vocal styles of Minju Opera are made up of the yangge, the jianghu diao, the douqiang and the xiao diao. In singing, both men and women use their natural voice; the leading characteristics are a loud, stirring and unadorned ruggedness, without any lack of the delicate and gentle. Singing in Minju Opera pursues plainness and naturalness and clean, brisk delivery, while also paying attention to the proper use of alternating resonance in the throat cavity, the nasal cavity, the abdominal cavity and the chest cavity in order to enhance the effect. Most of Minju Opera's tune patterns evolved from the Yiyang tune, the Siping tune, the Hui tune and Kunqu. A good many of its vocal styles still preserve the characteristics of the Yiyang tune and make use of bangjiang (chorus help-singing) and 'jiarun' (interpolated gun diao). The principal accompanying instruments are the horizontal flute, the suona, the leading wind instrument, the erhu, the yehu (coconut-shell fiddle), the qing drum, the war drum, and big and small gongs. In its early period Minju Opera had only the three role types of sheng (male), dan (female) and chou (clown). It later absorbed the role-type system of the Hui troupes and the Beijing opera troupes, and gradually developed the 'twelve role types' of xiaosheng (young male), laosheng (older male), wusheng (martial male), qingyi (virtuous woman), huadan (flirtatious woman), laodan (older woman), dahua (great painted face), erhua (second painted face), sanhua (comic painted face), tie (auxiliary role), mo and za (miscellaneous). In performance, actors lay stress on the basic formulaic use of hand, eye, body, method and step, striving to display graceful carriage and to embody a character's inner world through outward form. Minju Opera ranks first among the five major opera genres of Fujian and has a history of more than four hundred years to the present. In research into the history of changes in the vocal styles of Chinese opera and into the development of Fuzhou local culture, it is an important link that cannot be ignored.
Lian Yin: Refining the Seal
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Lizhi Huan Jiangtao: Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Ziyu Chai: The Purple Jade Hairpin
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Nü Yunhai: The Woman Carrying Remains
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Kaifeng Prefecture
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
The Pearl Tower
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Chuwen Ji: Chronicle of Chu Wen
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Zhaojie Zuo Xinfu: Zhao Jie Made a Bride
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Meng Jiangnü
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Qin Xianglian
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Du Shiniang
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Wanhua Lianchuan: The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Qiu Liyu
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
Qiulan Songfan: Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal
Minju Opera has more than one thousand traditional plays, most of which draw on folk legends, historical romances and ancient chuanqi or zaju. Some descend from the Rulin troupes, some from the jianghu troupes, some from the pingjiang troupes, and others were inherited from the Hui troupes. Representative plays commonly performed include Lian Yin (Refining the Seal), Lychee Exchanged for Red Peaches, The Purple Jade Hairpin, The Woman Carrying Remains, Kaifeng Prefecture, The Pearl Tower, Chronicle of Chu Wen, Zhao Jie Made a Bride, Meng Jiangnü, Qin Xianglian, Du Shiniang, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, The Lotus Boat of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qiu Liyu and Autumn Orchid Delivers the Meal.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Minju Opera is also called Fuzhou opera. It is the only surviving opera genre in which both singing and spoken delivery are performed in the Fuzhou dialect. It is popular in central, eastern and northern Fujian and has spread to Taiwan and to Southeast Asia.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
At present, under the impact of the great tide of the modern social economy, Minju Opera is day by day approaching an endangered state, and rescue and protection are urgently needed. Lin Peixin (recorded in the official archive of the associated inheritor): Male, Han nationality, born in 1951, from Lianjiang, Fujian. Lin Peixin entered the Sanming City Art School in 1960 and studied under the noted Minju masters Zhang Pinglan and Li Xiaobai, specialising in the civil and martial xiaosheng (young male) role. His range is broad: he is able to play xiaosheng, wusheng, laosheng, wenchou and other roles, and his performance style is elegant and free, his spoken delivery clear, and his singing beautiful, mellow and flowing. Representative works include The White Snake Legend, Triple Search at the Nunnery of Transformation, the Imperial Stele Pavilion and Number Eleven Lang. A representative inheritor of Minju Opera in the second batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage, former director of the Fuzhou Minju Theatre and a first-class performer. Lin Ying (recorded in the official archive of the associated inheritor): Female, Han nationality, born in 1950, from Fuzhou, Fujian. Her performance is distinctly vivid and delicate, pretty and expressive; her singing is broad and bright, giving voice and feeling together; her spoken delivery is clear and emotionally rich, and is rich in the flavour of the Fuzhou dialect. Representative works include The Phoenix Hairpin, Qin Xianglian, Zhuo Wenjun, Anger in the Yellow Hall and Wang Lianlian Offering Incense. A representative inheritor of Minju Opera in the second batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage, director of the Fujian Provincial Experimental Minju Theatre, a first-class performer, and winner of the 22nd China Drama Plum Blossom Award.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Lin Peixin 02-0542
- Lin Ying 02-0543
- Chen Naichun 03-1027
- Chen Xinguo 03-1028
- Chen Dezhong
- Zhou Hong
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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