Illustrated History of Chinese Drama

Author: Institute of Theatre Research, Chinese Academy of Arts
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Chinese theatre (Xiqu) art is a genre jointly created by all ethnic groups in China, possessing a unique formation and style. It has always been rooted among the masses and is closely linked to customs of worshipping deities and self-entertainment, fully embodying the traditional Chinese concept of harmony and beauty. Since the formation of a relatively complete Xiqu art form in the 12th century, it has spanned nine centuries. It not only belongs to the world's ancient theatrical cultures but also remains full of youthful vitality and radiates the brilliance of the times. Chinese theatre primarily features singing, dancing, acrobatic performances, and storytelling, absorbing other performance arts to evolve into a comprehensive genre. "Using singing and dancing to tell stories" is its fundamental artistic characteristic. Theatre has its own developmental history. The traditional customs of singing and dancing, acrobatics, and various performance arts since the Qin and Han dynasties, as well as the banquet music, temple fairs, and entertainment houses (wǎshè gōulán) of the Tang and Song dynasties, fostered competition, exchange, and integration among singing, dancing, storytelling, and other performance arts, giving birth to the art of theatre. From the Han Dynasty's The Yellow Lord of the East Sea to the Tang Dynasty's The Shaking Mother, and then to the Song Dynasty's Zaju and Jin Dynasty's Yuanben, these works reflect the evolutionary trajectory of the formation of Xiqu art. The Southern Drama and Northern Zaju marked the maturation of the two major theatrical systems in China's north and south, ushering in a golden age of Yuan Dynasty Zaju creation. The exchange of northern and southern theatrical cultures pushed the creation of Ming and Qing Dynasty legends to a new peak, leading to the flourishing development of Gaoqiang and Kunqu. The vigorous rise of folk Huabu and Luandan tunes then brought a new era of competition and development for local operas like Beiqu and Pihuang in the Qing Dynasty. The maturation of Peking Opera marked a new milestone in the history of theatre art. Today, over 300 varieties of Chinese theatre are active across the land and among the masses.