Hebei Bangzi

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Hebei Bangzi

Applicant: Beijing Hebei Bangzi Troupe

Item No.: 166

Project No.: Ⅳ - 22

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Beijing

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Beijing Hebei Bangzi Troupe

Protection unit: Beijing Hebei Bangzi Opera Company Limited

Hebei Bangzi

Applicant: Beijing Hebei Bangzi Troupe

Hebei Bangzi is the most representative type of local opera in Hebei Province. It used to be called "Beijing Bangzi", "Zhili Bangzi", "Wei Bangzi" and "Qin opera". It was officially named "Hebei Bangzi" in 1952. In the middle of Qing Dynasty, Qinqiang and Shanxi Bangzi, which flowed into Beijing, combined with Hebei dialect and folk music, formally formed Hebei Bangzi in Daoguang period, and were mainly popular in Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin and parts of Shandong and Northeast China. Hebei Bangzi fully reflects the characteristics of Hebei's regional culture, with a group of famous actors loved by the audience. Hebei Bangzi performances in Beijing and Tianjin also have their own styles.

Hebei Bangzi tune music belongs to banqiang style, including adagio, Erliu, Liushui, Jianban and other banqiang, and various leading and tail tunes. When singing, it is accompanied by Bangzi, Banhu, flute, Bangzi, Sheng and other musical instruments. The tone is euphemistic and sad in high pitched excitement, and it is good at expressing generous and solemn emotions. There are more than 500 kinds of traditional operas in Hebei Bangzi, among which baoliandeng, qinxianglian, jinshuiqiao, dushiniang, butterfly cup, Dou'e yuan, jiaozi, Duanqiao, sanshangqiao, xironggui, dajinzhi, xungguanniang, Nanbei he and suwu Yangmu have great influence.

After 1930s, Hebei Bangzi began to decline. At present, facing the pressure of market economy, this kind of drama is hard to survive and is on the verge of extinction, which is in urgent need of rescue and protection.