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); its roles of sheng, dan, jing and chou are complete, mostly staging small domestic plays of folk life early on and later also traditional historical plays and serial grand plays, its singing distinguishing male and female voices and its recitation using the southern Hebei dialect. It is led by the sihu, its percussion following the drum-and-gong patterns of the bangzi system and its singing commonly using such ban styles as erliu and liushui, long and unhurried and easy to understand.
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
Wei county's sixian is an important branch of southern Hebei sixian, popular in Wei county and the counties of southern Handan, sharing an origin with the Guantao, Julu and Feixiang troupes yet diverging from them, and mostly performing at rural temple fairs and festivals.
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 Wei county branch gives equal weight to small domestic plays and serial grand plays, its repertory and singing preserving a great deal of southern Hebei folk language and custom, making it a living sample for studying local Hebei opera.
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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