Siguxian
01 · Historical Records
It first developed out of folk flower-drum opera, came from Shandong to Hebei in the early nineteenth century, and on the basis of folk ditties absorbed the nourishment of such genres as luantan, Peking opera and Hebei bangzi, gradually evolving into its present scale.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Southern Hebei sixian, also called “four strings”, is one of the local operatic genres of Hebei; its chief accompanying instrument, the big xian also called the “sihu”, has four silk strings, from which the genre takes its name. Southern Hebei sixian circulates in the counties of Julu, Guantao, Wei and Feixiang and reaches as far as Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and Henan, with a history of more than two hundred years. Its roles of sheng, dan, jing and chou are complete; early on it mostly played small domestic plays of folk life, and after gradual development it also staged traditional historical plays and serial grand plays. Its singing is long and unhurried, gentle and flowing, with male and female voices distinguished. The characters' language is restrained and humorous, easy to understand, much loved by audiences. Its repertory is numerous, among which Liu Jinding Descends to Southern Tang, Empress He Curses the Court, Entering the Palace Twice and Upstairs to Kill Xiren are representative works. Southern Hebei sixian is led by the sihu (big xian) with erhu, banhu and percussion besides; its singing is long and unhurried, gentle and flowing, with male and female voices distinguished, and its recitation uses the southern Hebei dialect, the characters' language restrained and humorous and easy to understand. Its early troupes were mostly part-farming and part-performing, busiest at temple fairs and festivals, and after 1949 counties such as Guantao successively formed professional troupes, keeping the genre alive in southern Hebei.
Liu Jinding Descends to Southern Tang
A representative work among the numerous plays of southern Hebei sixian.
Empress He Curses the Court
A representative work among the numerous plays of southern Hebei sixian.
Entering the Palace Twice
A representative work among the numerous plays of southern Hebei sixian.
Upstairs to Kill Xiren
A representative work among the numerous plays of southern Hebei sixian.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Guantao's sixian is an important branch of southern Hebei sixian, popular in Guantao and the counties of Handan and exchanging with the Julu, Wei and Feixiang troupes; it mostly performs at rural temple fairs and festivals and is transmitted through family troupes and master-disciple teaching.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Siguxian · Siguxian · Siguxian.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Sixian is a precious heritage of folk operatic culture of high artistic value and urgently needs support and protection. The Guantao branch preserves a great many orally transmitted serial plays and small domestic plays of folk life, and the singing and performing conventions of its red-face and black-face roles have reference value for studying the blending of the bangzi and flower-drum systems.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Jiehuiqian 05-2425
- Li Yujiang 05-2426
- Li Huilin
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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