Sichuan opera

Chengdu is the main home of Sichuan opera, while other influential locales include Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hubei and Taiwan.

According to the records of the Taiping Guang Ji[7] and Tares History Compilation, there was a play of Bullfighting since Li Bing was the governor of Shu County in the 3rd Century BC.

While inheriting and preserving the traditional Sichuan opera, it created fashion shows that were more relevant to the contemporary era, such as The Story of Qiu Jin, The Recovery of Wuchang, and the Queen of the West.

Several plays and performances, including The Willow Shadow,[20] Autumn River,[21] Snow Review, and Trace, Farewell, Brother Wutaihui, won awards.

In Zhou Enlai's "Speech at the Symposium on Literary Work and the Conference on the Creation of Feature Films"[22] (19 June 1961), he said: "I saw the material in Sichuan.

During the "Cultural Revolution", more than 100 Sichuan opera troupes were disbanded, and a large number of famous actors, directors, writers, and artists were treated as "Devils, ghosts, snakes and gods", expelled, or transferred to "Reform through labor teams".

The Cultural Bureau of Sichuan Province announced the opening of traditional operas in batches while holding literary and artistic arrangements to promote creation and performance.

Emei Film Studio produced a TV series called Sichuan Plum Blossoms, which was shown throughout the province and all of China.

During the long-term development of Sichuan Opera, there were differences between regions in what voice styles were popular, as well as in the relationships between artists and their teachers.

Yu Zhuang in harmony; Pure Angle, also known as "Flower face", is a colorful facial makeup that indicates a clear loyalty and treachery.

Sichuan opera gongs and drums are especially revered due to their strong sound, clear and changeable rhythm, and unique timbre.

The language of Sichuan opera is intended to be lively, humorous, full of vivid local flavor, and with a strong atmosphere.

In mass performances of Sichuan Opera, the content of the drama is based on life, and the humorous words are said to often cause the audience to cheer and laugh repeatedly.

[citation needed] The music accompanying Sichuan opera utilizes a small gong and an instrument called a Guqin, which is similar to the Erhu.

[1] The traditional formula can be quite systematic, and may include a combination of stunts— such as Bian Lian, Tihuiyan, sword-hiding, fire-spitting[41] and beards changing with the plot and different characters.

The percussion music uses big gongs and drums, which run through the Qupai[43] so that the help, playing, and singing are closely combined.

[citation needed] It combines with the Sichuan dialect, local Yangko rap, and other folk arts to enrich its expressive force and form its own unique style.

Combined with Gaoqiang, Huqin, Tanxi, and other tones as well as Sichuan opera gongs and drums, it was performed in the form of group tunes of "two and three groans", also known as "Kuntouzi".

One theory is that Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong introduced it when they entered Sichuan in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties.

At the same time, it was gradually combined with Huqin, Gaoqiang, and other tones, as well as Sichuan opera gongs and drums, or performed in groups.

Tanxi includes two kinds of tunes with very different emotions: one is called "Tian Ping", showing the feeling of joy and elation.

The main accompaniment instrument is the "datongtong Huqin", which has a thick and short rod, a large tube, and a slight "om" sound.

[59] The legacy of the Gaoqiang style is the largest, and the artistic features are also the most prominent, such as in the "Five Robes", "Four Pillars", and "Jiang Hu Shi Ba Ben".

The repertoire of Tanxi is represented by the four major volumes of "Chun Qiu Pei",[62] "Mei Jiang Xian", "Hua Tian Cuo" and "kujiezhuan".

The "Huangben" written by Huang Ji'an, a writer in the late Qing dynasty, are the most famous, and include stories such as: "Qing Ling Tai", "San Fa Song", "Shen Nong Jian", "Shen Ji Ping",[63] "Chai Shi Jie", " San Jin Zhong", "Mian Zhu Guan", and "Jiang You Guan."

Among the works of literati, Zhao Xi's "Qing Tan", Ran Qiaozi's "Dao Wu Bi" and Yin Zhongxi's "Li Yan Ai."

[66] Since the Qing dynasty, innumerable Sichuan opera performing artists have emerged, such as Wei Changsheng[67] in the Qianlong period, Xiao Xiating and Yue Chun in the Xianfeng and Tongzhi years, Fu Sangan and Huang Jinfeng in the Guangxu and Xuantong years, Yang Sultan and Yang Sulan in the late Qing dynasty and the early Republic of China.

Kang Zilin,[68] Tang Guangti, Huanhuaxian, etc., Xiao Kaicheng, Tian Lai, Cao Junchen, Yan Bingzhang, etc.

The young generation includes Chen Shufang, Jing Hua, Yang Shuying, Xu Qianyun, Situ Huicong,[70] Li Xiaofei, Xie Ping 'an, etc.

; Rising stars include Zhao Youyu, Lan Guang Lin, Zhang Qiaofeng, Liu Shiyu,[71] and others.