Kunqu Opera of China

Synopsis

Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera, renowned as the "ancestor and teacher of all operas." It originated in Kunshan, Jiangsu, during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. In 2001, it was included in UNESCO's first list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion is considered the most classic work, and Bai Xianyong's 2004 youth edition of The Peony Pavilion revitalized Kunqu Opera.

Overview

Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest and most refined forms of Chinese traditional opera, renowned as the "Ancestor of All Operas" and the "Teacher of All Operas." It originated in the Kunshan region of Jiangsu province around the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties (approximately the 14th century). Initially a local folk tune, it was refined by Wei Liangfu and others, who created the "Shuimo Diao" (Water Mill Tune) singing style, making Kunqu's melodies melodious, graceful, delicate, and beautiful. From the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty to the mid-Qing Dynasty, for about 300 years, Kunqu Opera led the Chinese theatrical stage, representing the pinnacle of traditional Chinese opera art. In 2001, Kunqu Opera was inscribed by UNESCO on the first Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity list, making it the earliest Chinese art form to receive this honor.

The artistic characteristics of Kunqu Opera can be summarized by the word "elegance" – elegant librettos, melodious singing, graceful movements, and profound artistic conception. The scripts are mostly written by literati, featuring elegant and ornate lyrics full of poetic charm. The singing is accompanied by the bamboo flute, with a slow, lingering, and smooth melody, as fine and soft as water-milled glutinous rice flour, hence the name "Shuimo Diao." The performance emphasizes the four basic skills: singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics. Every movement and gesture is meticulously designed, resembling a flowing scroll painting.

Classic Plays

The Peony Pavilion is the most renowned masterpiece of Kunqu Opera, created by the Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu in 1598. The full play consists of 55 scenes. It tells the story of Du Liniang, the daughter of a Southern Song prefect, who, after a spring outing, becomes lovesick in a dream where she meets the scholar Liu Mengmei. Waking up, she pines away and dies of depression. Three years later, Liu Mengmei finds Du Liniang's self-portrait and falls in love with the image. Du Liniang's ghost and Liu Mengmei fall in love, and she is eventually resurrected, allowing the couple to be united.

The most famous aria in The Peony Pavilion is "Zao Luo Pao" from the scene "The Dream Interrupted":

See how deepest purple, brightest scarlet
Open their beauty only to dry well crumbling.
"Bright the morn, lovely the scene,"
Listless and lost the heart
—where is the garden "gay with joyous cries"?

This aria perfectly expresses a young maiden's cherishing of beautiful spring scenery and her melancholy over the passing of youth. It is hailed as one of the most beautiful arias in the history of Chinese opera.

Historical Development

The development of Kunqu Opera went through phases of emergence, peak, and decline. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, Wei Liangfu carried out significant reforms to the Kunqu singing style, creating the "Shuimo Diao," which elevated Kunqu from a local folk tune to a high art form. Subsequently, Liang Chenyu's play The Washing Silk was the first to stage the reformed Kunqu style, marking its formal establishment as a theatrical form.

The late Ming and early Qing dynasties were the golden age of Kunqu Opera. Troupes were established all over the country, and a large number of excellent plays and performing artists emerged. However, by the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty, with the rise of new operatic forms like Peking Opera, Kunqu gradually declined due to its perceived elitism and difficulty. By the early 20th century, Kunqu Opera was nearly extinct, with only a few inheritors keeping it alive.

Modern Revival

The contemporary revival of Kunqu Opera is thanks to multifaceted efforts. In 1956, the Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe's adaptation of Fifteen Strings of Cash was a great success. Premier Zhou Enlai praised it as "one play saving a theatrical genre." After Kunqu's inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2001, it gained more attention and resources.

In 2004, the renowned writer Pai Hsien-yung launched the "Youth Edition" of The Peony Pavilion, introducing bold innovations to traditional Kunqu. While preserving the essence of Kunqu art, he comprehensively modernized stage design, costumes, and lighting effects, infusing the ancient art form with youthful vitality. The Youth Edition Peony Pavilion toured numerous cities worldwide, playing to sold-out audiences and attracting large numbers of young viewers to the theater. It is hailed as a milestone event in the revival of Kunqu Opera.

Today, there are seven professional Kunqu Opera troupes in China, located in Suzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Hunan, and Zhejiang. Universities across the country have also begun offering Kunqu appreciation courses to cultivate a new generation of audiences. This ancient artistic treasure is once again blossoming in the soil of modern society.

References

1. China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network: https://www.ihchina.cn/project_details/13135.html
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/昆曲
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/昆曲
4. Pai Hsien-yung's Youth Edition Peony Pavilion: https://www.peony2016.com