The Origin of Huangmei Opera

The origin of Huangmei Opera can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. According to historical records, as early as the Tang Dynasty, Huangmei tea-picking songs were very popular, and after the development of folk songs in the Song Dynasty and the influence of zaju in the Yuan Dynasty, the embryonic form of folk opera was gradually formed. Huangmei Opera, formerly known as Huangmeidiao or tea-picking opera, is one of the five major operas in China. It is one of the four major operas in Anhui, which are juxtaposed with Lu Opera, Hui Opera and Sizhou Opera. Huangmei opera originated from the tea-picking tune in Huangmei area at the junction of Hubei, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was introduced to Huaining County, Anhui Province and other surrounding areas, and combined with local folk arts, it was sung and sung in Anqing dialect, which gradually developed into a new kind of drama. It was once called "Huai Opera" and "Hui Opera". Huangmei Opera is simple and fluent in singing, good at lively lyricism and rich in expressive force. The performance is simple and meticulous, and it is famous for its truthfulness and vividness. It has become an important means to interpret and spread the traditional culture of China. The distribution is centered on Anqing and spread all over the country. The famous Huangmei operas include Gao Jing, Gao Ba Fei, Da Ci Dian and Crossing the Boundary Ridge. On May 20th, 2006, Huangmei Opera was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.