Luju Opera
01 · Historical Records
Lu opera was formerly called “sitting-tune yangqin” and “painted-face yangqin”; it evolved from Shandong qinshu by absorbing folk flower-drum, ditties and local tunes, and is popular in Shandong and parts of Jiangsu and Anhui. After the 1950s Lu opera performing bodies were successively set up in Guangrao, Lijin and elsewhere, spreading Lu opera widely through the Yellow River delta area of the Dongying district.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
It is a rural art, performing farming matters and singing farming feelings, its roles mainly the “three small” of xiaosheng, xiaodan and xiaochou, its lyrics and speech mostly from folk usage, and its singing accompanied chiefly by the zhuihu, erhu and sanxian. Its singing music evolved from folk popular tunes and belongs to the typical banqiang structure, made up of such modes as “siping” and “erban” together with some qupai; the tunes are simple and plain, beautiful and pleasant, natural and easy to sing, brimming with rich life-breath and local character, praised in its areas as a “post for tethering wives”. Its repertory runs to nearly three hundred items, among which Wang Xiao Drives the Cart, Sisters Swap Marriages and Li Ersao Remarries are representative works. Its singing is mainly in “siping” and “erban”, its recitation using northern Shandong pronunciation, its repertory mostly on rural life and household ethics, and its staging simple and easy to take on tour.
Wang Xiao Drives the Cart
One of the representative works among Lu opera's nearly three hundred plays.
Sisters Swap Marriages
One of the representative works among Lu opera's nearly three hundred plays.
Li Ersao Remarries
One of the representative works among Lu opera's nearly three hundred plays, taken to Beijing, filmed and spread nationwide.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Lu opera takes the Dongying district area of Dongying city as one of its main areas of circulation, popular in Guangrao, Lijin and Kenli at the mouth of the Yellow River; most local performers are semi-professional, forming troupes in the farming slack, and the troupes give equal weight to performance and transmission, making it an important transmission area for Lu opera in the Yellow River delta.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Luju Opera · Luju Opera · Luju Opera · Luju Opera.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
In the Dongying area Lu opera performs farming matters and sings farming feelings, its lyrics and speech mostly from folk usage, with a strong rustic flavour and local linguistic character; many local troupes regularly hold teaching and showcase events, and their folk troupes and transmission activities provide a living sample for studying northern Shandong rural society and the spread of local opera.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Lang Xianfen 03-1129
- Li Daijiang 03-1130
- Li Yu 03-1131
- Lin Jianhua 03-1132
- Wang Yongchang 04-1687
- Dong Yanping
- Luan Shengli
- Su Zhi
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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