Quzi Opera

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: quzixi

Applicant: Xinjiang production and Construction Corps

Project No.: 213

Project No.: Ⅳ - 69

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Beijing

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Xinjiang production and Construction Corps

Protection unit: Wujiaqu culture, sports, radio, television and Tourism Bureau of the sixth division of Xinjiang production and Construction Corps

Introduction to Quzi Opera:

Applicant: Xinjiang production and Construction Corps

Quzi opera is a unique type of opera in Xinjiang. It is popular in Wujiaqu, Changji, Qitai, fangcaohu, Xinhu and Hongqi farms. It was gradually formed by the combination of opera and music from the Central Plains brought by the immigrants from the Central Plains, the garrison of the Qing Dynasty and the famine victims in the middle of the 18th century and the local voice of Xinjiang. It is closely related to the Shaanxi opera, Meihu opera, Gansu Dagu and Shaanxi Gansu Ningxia folk songs.

Quzi opera has a long history of development. As early as the late Qing Dynasty, such minor tunes as sanxiatun, shisui Dynasty, Lanqiao Danshui and xiuhebao were sung all over Xinjiang. According to the old artists, it used to have only nine tunes and eighteen tunes. Today it has become thirty-six major tunes and seventy-two minor tunes, among which the commonly used ones are "Yuediao", "Wugeng", "dongdiao", "Xizi", "gangdiao", "Lianxiang" and "jianjianhua". The singing and performance of Quzi opera are deeply loved by the masses all over Xinjiang. In the 1950s, there were spontaneously organized Quzi opera performance teams all over the country. At present, many old performers of Quzi opera have passed away one after another, and those who are still alive are old. There are few inheritors of local operas, and many materials are lost. It is advisable to make plans and protect them.