Chunansanjiao Opera
01 · Historical Records
Because its early roles were only the three of xiaosheng, xiaodan and xiaochou it is also called “three-legged opera”, and it was named Mu opera in 1951. Chun'an three-legged opera formed in the late Qing, combining the tea-picking opera brought from Jiangxi and Anhui with the local folk song-and-dance “bamboo-horse troupe”. In the Republican period the “three-legged opera bamboo-horse troupes” numbered nearly a hundred, and the present professional body, the Chun'an county Mu opera troupe, was founded in 1951.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Chun'an three-legged opera is a local genre formed by combining tea-picking opera with the folk song-and-dance bamboo-horse troupe. Its arias divide into the three great categories of “Huguang tune”, “three-legged tune” and “miscellaneous tune”, with more than a hundred traditional tunes; the arias are mainly in the ban style and also absorb the tunes of such grand genres as Wu opera. Traditional three-legged opera was accompanied by percussion such as gong and drum, using such drum-and-gong patterns as the “long course” and “short course” for interludes and introductions, later gradually adding huqin, flute and sanxian. It performs in the Chun'an dialect, its form song-and-dance, its style plain and bright with a rich rustic flavour, much loved by the local people. Its repertory mostly reflects rural daily life, traditional plays including Sowing Wheat on the South Hill, Herding the Ox, Watching the Lanterns and Mending the Back Strap. On market days, temple fairs and festivals the mountain villagers often gather to watch its song-and-dance short plays, making it an important local form of cultural entertainment.
Sowing Wheat on the South Hill
One of the traditional plays of Chun'an three-legged opera, reflecting rural daily life.
Herding the Ox
One of the traditional plays of Chun'an three-legged opera, reflecting rural daily life.
Watching the Lanterns
One of the traditional plays of Chun'an three-legged opera.
Mending the Back Strap
One of the traditional plays of Chun'an three-legged opera.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Chun'an three-legged opera centres on Chun'an county, Zhejiang, and is popular in Chun'an, Kaihua and Changshan and in Tunxi and Shexian in Anhui and Wuyuan in Jiangxi, most performances being given within Chun'an; in the Republican period the “three-legged opera bamboo-horse troupes” numbered nearly a hundred, and the Chun'an county Mu opera troupe was founded in 1951.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
At present Chun'an three-legged opera is losing its audience and its market is shrinking, putting it on the verge of being lost and urgently requiring protection.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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