The origin and development of Kunqu opera, the origin of Kunqu opera

Kunqu Opera, formerly known as "Kunshan Tune" and "Kunqu Opera", is an ancient opera tune and genre in China. It has been called "Kunqu Opera" since the Qing Dynasty, and it is also called "Kunqu Opera" now. Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest traditional operas in China, and it is also a treasure of traditional culture and art in China, especially opera art, which is called an "orchid" in a hundred gardens.

Kunqu Opera was produced in Kunshan, Suzhou as early as the end of Yuan Dynasty (14 century). It, Haiyan originated in Zhejiang, Yu Yaoqiang originated in Jiangxi, and Yiyang Opera originated in Jiangxi. Known as the four major operas in Ming Dynasty, it belongs to the Southern Opera system.

Kunshan dialect began as a folk song ditty. At first, its distribution area was limited to Suzhou, but during the Wanli period, it spread from Suzhou to the south of the Yangtze River and the north of Qiantang River, and also flowed into Beijing during the Wanli period. In this way, Kunshan Opera became the most influential vocal opera from the middle of Ming Dynasty to the middle of Qing Dynasty.

Kunqu opera is the most influential drama from the middle of Ming Dynasty to the middle of Qing Dynasty. Many operas are developed on the basis of Kunqu Opera, and they are called "the father of all kinds of operas, the teacher of all kinds of operas" and "the mother of China operas". Immediately, Wuxi Kunqu Opera Society played a role in the prosperity and promotion of Kunqu Opera.

Kunqu Opera is a kind of opera with the most complete performance system in the history of China opera. It has a deep foundation and rich heritage. It is the result of the high development of Han culture and art in China and occupies an important position in the history of China literature, drama, music and dance. The performance of Kunqu Opera also has its own unique system and style. Its greatest characteristics are strong lyricism, delicate movements and ingenious and harmonious combination of song and dance. From the linguistic point of view, the play was originally divided into Nanqu and Beiqu: Suzhou dialect was the main part in Nankun, and Bai Yun and Bai Jing were the main parts in Beikun.

Kunqu opera has reached the highest level in all aspects of opera performance with its gorgeous and euphemistic singing, elegant recitation, delicate performance, elegant dance and perfect stage setting. Because of this, many local operas, such as Jin Opera, Pu Opera, xiang opera Opera, Sichuan Opera, Gan Opera, Guangxi Opera, Yue Opera and Fujian Opera, have been nourished by Kunqu Opera in many ways.

Many plays in Kunqu Opera, such as Peony Pavilion, Palace of Eternal Life and Peach Blossom Fan, are immortal works in China's ancient opera literature. Kunqu Opera has inherited the literary traditions of Tang Poetry, Song Ci and Yuan Qu, and many tunes are the same as Song Ci and Yuan Qu. This laid a good cultural foundation for the development of Kunqu Opera, and also brought up a large number of Kunqu Opera writers and musicians, among whom Liang Chenyu, Tang Xianzu, Hong Sheng, Kong, Li Yu, Li Yu and Ye Ya were outstanding representatives in the history of China opera and literature.

Judging from the historical development of Kunqu Opera, 400 years before18th century was a period of gradual maturity and prosperity of Kunqu Opera. During this period, Kunqu opera has been showing people all kinds of customs in the world in a perfect way. It is this rich and beautiful performance atmosphere and arty pursuit that makes Kunqu opera more and more elegant and difficult to understand. /kloc-In the late 8th century, local operas began to rise, which broke the long-standing performance pattern. The development of traditional Chinese opera has also changed from aristocratic to popular, and Kunqu opera has begun to decline.

In the mid-20th century, the decline of Kunqu opera became more obvious, and many Kunqu artists turned to perform popular Peking Opera. 1949 with the founding of New China, China's traditional opera has been vigorously supported and revitalized, and Kunqu opera has been fortunate to be reborn. 1956, The Fifteen Biographies, adapted and performed by Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe, had a wide influence throughout the country. Zhou Zong once said with emotion: "A play saved a play." Since then, Kunqu Opera Troupe has been restored in many parts of the country.

On 2001May 18, UNESCO published the first batch of "representative works of human oral and intangible heritage", including China's Kunqu opera art, and China became one of the first 19 countries to receive this honor.

During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, there were zaju dramas in the north, and many roles were stories. Southern opera originated before and after Jian Yan's crossing to the south. During the period of Hongwu, the Southern Opera became a legend.