Shaanxi Characteristic Opera Culture: Shaanxi Meihua Opera

There is no literature to test where the Mei family originated, and there are different opinions among artists. It is said that it originated in Meixian County and Huxian County, so it is called "Hu Mei". Meixian County and Huxian County are located at the foot of Taibai Mountain in Qinling Mountains, and folk songs have prevailed since ancient times. Hu Meige originated from these folk songs and was called "Qingqu" in ancient times. Meihua Opera has gradually developed into Meihua Opera in Huayin and hua county. One theory originated from a kind of palace ci in Qin Mugong court, which was first popular in Yongyi (now Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province). Because of his good singing skills, euphemistic lyrics and easy-to-understand words, he has been well received by the public. For example, Jin said: famous people sing passion, while famous people sing songs; In the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai said: "The old garden is barren and the willow is new, and Lingge Spring can't sing" originated in Zhou Pu, Linyi and Linjin in southern Shanxi.

But what is certain is that Hu Mei in southern Shaanxi evolved from Hu Mei in Shaanxi! Its vocals include Taibai folk songs in Mei and Hu counties, folk tunes in Huayin and hua county, and folk tunes in southern Shanxi. It is said that it originated in Huayin and Huaxian. Because the melody is charming, there is a saying in Shaanxi that "Hu" is "drama", so it is called "Fan Hu", which means charming drama. Huayin and Huaxian were the areas of the State of Zheng in the Zhou Dynasty, and the Mei people may have been influenced by the "Zheng Sheng". Therefore, the eyebrows in Guanzhong are divided into two ways: east and west. On the East Road, there is a saying that "the same state bangzi is connected with Yang (referring to puppet hanging) line, and the two eyebrow households are handed down from generation to generation".

During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, with the development of opera art in places such as Shaanxi Opera, Hu Mei was gradually put on the stage, forming a certain number of plays. Yan 'an was called "Hu Mei" during the Anti-Japanese War, so most of it is now called Hu Mei. During the Jiaqing and Daoguang years of the Qing Dynasty, in Shaanxi, some people combined singing with folk yangko and social fire, focusing on minor, developed into a small play, and gradually moved from "stall" to stage. During this period, artists such as Wu, Wang Xirong and Wang, who were also "street vendors" in Jinnan, began to put their eyebrows on the stage.

During the reign of Tongzhi and Guangxu, there were a number of artists and professional troupes such as Yue and Chai Yinwa who were active in Weinan, Shaanxi. Yin Fu, Yang Laosi and others changed from "Flower Drum" to "Hu Mei" and lived in the area north of Weihe River. In the early stage, clowns, Xiao Dan and Xiao Sheng played the roles, such as Zhang Lian selling cloth, harsh persuasion, noisy library and Li Yangui selling water. During the performance, artists constantly absorb voices, gongs and drums, accompaniment, figures, costumes and so on. Enrich one's artistic means and expressive force from local operas.

Most of the eyebrow households in Shaanxi borrowed from Qin Opera, while those in Shanxi borrowed from Pu Opera, so they gradually developed into operas that can express the theme of historical stories, and can perform operas such as Butterfly Cup, Dragon Ball String and Eight-legged Dress. However, for a long time, Hu Mei Opera was still the main form, and it kept the form of oratorio without makeup, performance and lip service, which was loved by Hu Mei Opera.

During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression period, under the guidance of the Party's literary and artistic policies, Leeb, a famous artist from southern Shaanxi, came to Yan 'an to give lectures. At that time, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border People's Troupe and the vast number of literary and art workers reflected the people's struggle life in the border area in the form of Hu Mei, and compiled and performed plays such as Twelve Sickles, Couples Literacy, Everyone Likes, which provided important artistic conditions for the rise and development of the new Yangko Opera Movement and laid the foundation for Hu Mei to perform modern drama.

After the establishment of People's Republic of China (PRC), professional organizations such as Mei and Wan Troupe of Shaanxi Opera Research Institute, Meihu Troupe of Huayin County, Meihu Troupe of Linfen, Shanxi Province, and Meihu Troupe of Linyi County and Guanghan County were established successively. He wrote and adapted many modern dramas and historical story dramas, among which the modern drama Liang Qiuyan is the most famous.