Qian Opera
01 · Historical Records
Qian opera is a newly arisen local operatic genre developed on the basis of the Guizhou narrative-singing art yangqin, also called “wenqin” and “Guizhou tanci”, formally named “Qian opera” in February 1960. In the Kangxi reign of the Qing Guizhou yangqin began to circulate within Guizhou and has a history of nearly three hundred years.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Qian opera's singing music belongs to the banqiang system, with such basic tunes as “qingban”, “erban”, “yangdiao”, “kubing”, “erliu” and “erhuang”; besides the yangqin its accompanying instruments include the wengqin, yueqin, small jinghu, erhu, pipa, sanxian, xiao and flute. Its lyrics are mainly in rhymed prose, continuing the “three-three-four” or “two-two-three” line patterns of narrative-singing literature, plain in language and gentle in singing, much loved by the people of Guizhou. Its surviving traditional repertory numbers more than four hundred, mostly adapted from classical novels and operas, among which Moving the Kiln, The Pearl Tower and Thrice Testing the Bridegroom are representative works. Over the years it has created and transplanted a great many plays, among which Qin Niangmei, adapted from Dong opera, was made into a stage art film, and the created Yi historical story play Madam Shexiang went to Beijing for the observation performance marking the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic, winning the Ministry of Culture's first prize for performance and for creation and creating a great stir nationwide. In music, singing, instrumental disposition, performing conventions and stage art Qian opera has also carried out innovation, further maturing artistically.
Moving the Kiln
One of the representative traditional plays of Qian opera.
The Pearl Tower
One of the representative traditional plays of Qian opera.
Thrice Testing the Bridegroom
One of the representative traditional plays of Qian opera.
Qin Niangmei
A Qian opera play adapted from Dong opera, made into a stage art film.
Madam Shexiang
A created Yi historical story play that went to Beijing for the observation performance marking the thirtieth National Day, winning the Ministry of Culture's first prize for performance and for creation.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Qian opera centres on Guiyang city, Guizhou, and is popular in Guiyang, Zunyi, Anshun and Bijie and in parts of the Qiandongnan and Qianxinan prefectures; because it developed on the basis of Guizhou yangqin (wenqin) it was early also called “wenqin” and “Guizhou tanci”, being formally named “Qian opera” in 1960, with the Guizhou provincial Qian opera troupe as its provincial body.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The inheritor, a national first-class actor and expert enjoying the State Council special allowance, entered the Guizhou provincial Qian opera troupe in 1987 and, after long practice, formed a style of his own in Qian opera music and performance; a Ministry of Culture outstanding expert, member of Guizhou's “four batches” talent programme and a Guizhou “both virtue and art” literary and art worker, he has led in The Pearl Tower, The Family Case, Wuka, The Descendants of Qin Niangmei, The Chaste Woman, The College Student Village Official, The Nine Post Map and Spring Thunder at Dingyun and won provincial and ministerial awards many times, including the gold award in the Guizhou division of the Chinese Opera Red Plum Award and the national nomination award, second prize of the first Guizhou literary and art award and the Guizhou “five-one project” award.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Zhu Hong 05-2459
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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