Zhegu Opera
01 · Historical Records
According to the handwritten scripts of Shanghe village in Linzi district and local oral tradition, partridge opera originated in the Qianlong reign of the Qing, developed by the villagers of Shanghe imitating the call of the partridge, and has been transmitted for seven generations and more than two hundred and fifty years, being one of the few rare genres in the country completely preserved by a village.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Partridge opera is a folk genre developed by imitating the call of the partridge, its feature being the addition of a partridge-like trailing note to each sung line, gentle and melodious. It has its own distinctive qupai and music, its arias and recitation drawn from the dialect of Linzi district, Zibo, Shandong and absorbing the essence of Peking opera, both grand and regular and rich in local character, with fifteen qupai such as the even board, exploding doll, in-laws' quarrel tune, sorrow and plane; it preserves fifty-six handwritten scripts from the late Qing to 2009, mainly Rouge, Longbao Temple and The Strange Tea Case, the serial play Five Phoenix Ridge, the ten-volume serial The Story of the Grand Duke, Pink River, Luo Tong Sweeps the North, The Top Scholar Keeps the Watch, Yang Paifeng, The Lotus Lantern, In-Laws' Quarrel, The Strange Error and Making Havoc in the School. Its accompaniment is mainly percussion, with drum and gong in almost every passage, and it has its own distinctive instrument, the partridge hu.
Rouge
One of the principal plays in the handwritten scripts preserved by partridge opera.
Longbao Temple
One of the principal plays in the handwritten scripts preserved by partridge opera.
The Strange Tea Case
One of the principal plays in the handwritten scripts preserved by partridge opera.
Five Phoenix Ridge (Serial Play)
One of the serial plays preserved by partridge opera.
The Story of the Grand Duke (Ten-Volume Serial)
One of the ten-volume serial plays preserved by partridge opera.
The Fifteen Qupai and the Partridge Hu
Partridge opera has fifteen qupai such as the even board, exploding doll, in-laws' quarrel tune, sorrow and plane, its accompaniment mainly percussion, and it has its own distinctive instrument, the partridge hu.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Partridge opera centres on Shanghe village, Linzi district, Zibo city, Shandong, and is transmitted and performed in Shanghe and the surrounding villages; because it is completely preserved by a village, its qupai, handwritten scripts and such distinctive instruments as the partridge hu have continued, a rare instance of living village transmission.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Partridge opera originated in the Qianlong reign of the Qing and has been transmitted in Shanghe village, Linzi district, Zibo, for seven generations and more than two hundred and fifty years, being one of the few rare genres in the country completely preserved by a village; its qupai, handwritten scripts and distinctive instruments are all living material of spontaneous folk transmission, of reference value for studying Shandong folk operatic music and village theatrical tradition.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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