Yang Opera
01 · Historical Records
When the Tujia masked yangxi of Youyang originated is still unsettled. Collecting the historical records and the material clues, there are chiefly three views: one holds that it began in the Shu-Han period; a second that it took shape in the Tang dynasty; and a third that it is a genre native to Youyang and grown from its own soil. The documents show that yangxi was already comparatively flourishing in the Youyang area as late as the Tongzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Tujia masked yangxi of Youyang is a folk ritual drama, also called "face-shell play", and it is widely transmitted in Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County and the surrounding areas. The Tujia masked yangxi of Youyang is derived from the nuo wish-play. All the performers are male, and apart from the dan role they mostly wrap the face in white cloth and wear a wooden mask slanting across it, shaping their characters and unfolding the plot chiefly through body language and dialogue carried by chanting and singing. The sheng, dan, jing and chou role types each have their own distinctive conventions and routines, full of rustic vitality and quite unlike anything else. What the performances present is mainly stories about human relationships and the principles of nature, about myth and legend and the like, urging people towards goodness. A complete performance takes three to five days and is carried out jointly by the altar master, the actors and the members of the music band, who number from a few to more than ten. The Tujia masked yangxi of Youyang differs from the southern-road yangxi current in Jishou, Luxi and Fenghuang in Hunan and in Songtao, Tongren and Yuping in Guizhou, and is therefore called the "northern-road yangxi". The Tujia masked yangxi of Youyang is rooted in the folk and is a form of folk culture that the masses are glad to see and hear. It is characterised by the dramatic character of its rituals, the masked character of its performance, its ethnic and regional character, the distinctiveness of its vocal system, the plurality of its performance modes and its secular, occasion-appropriate character. It has preserved a large quantity of literary scripts, forms an organic part of Tujia culture, and possesses historical, cultural and artistic value that cannot be disregarded.
Lan Jizi
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Old Du Sending a Son
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Winter Plum Blossom
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
The Great Filial Piety
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Xue Rengui's Campaign East
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Xue Dingshan's Campaign West
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
The Python
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
An'an Sending Rice
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
The Relief of Shuato
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Tang Er Leaving Home
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Mu Ke Stockade
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang
A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Tujia masked yangxi is active chiefly among the mountains and fields, and the original purposes of its performances fall into two broad categories: one is to repay a vow and pray to the gods on behalf of others; the other is for altar troupes to reward the gods and sacrifice to the ancestors. A complete Tujia masked yangxi performance falls into three main parts: the first is the ritual, including inviting the gods, Lord Guan opening the stage and Madam Pang stabilising the stage; the second is the singing of the main plays, whose principal repertoire includes Lan Jizi, Old Du Sending a Son, Winter Plum Blossom, The Great Filial Piety, Xue Rengui's Campaign East, Xue Dingshan's Campaign West, The Python, An'an Sending Rice, the Relief of Shuato, Tang Er Leaving Home, Mu Ke Stockade and Xue Gang's Revolt against the Tang; the third is again ritual, including seeing the gods off, Lord Guan sweeping the hall and the altar master throwing the eggs. In the course of its development yangxi was influenced by the folk songs, folk ditties and lantern-drum operas of various localities, and this produced artistic schools of differing styles.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Zhangjiajie Yang Opera · Yang Opera · Yang Opera · Yang Opera.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The yangxi troupes that are relatively active at present are concentrated mainly in Qingquan village, Tongxi village and Cheba village in Tonggu town, Xiaogang village and Taopo village in Xiaohe town, and Yanfeng village in Yiju township of Youyang. Developed up to the present, the traceable line of transmission of the Tujia masked yangxi of Youyang runs to at least fourteen generations. Intergenerational continuity is achieved mainly through apprenticeship, and the art has a broad popular base.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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