Daoqing Opera (Longju Opera)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Daoqing Opera (Longju Opera)

Applicant: Gansu Province

Project No.: 215

Project No.: Ⅳ - 71

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Gansu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Gansu Province

Protection unit: Gansu Longju opera academy

Introduction to Daoqing Opera (Longju Opera)

Applicant: Gansu Province

Daoqing opera is a popular folk opera in the Yellow River Valley in China. It originated from the "Jingyun" sung by Taoists in the Tang Dynasty, and developed into a form of white quyi, Daoqing Gucci, in the Song Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty, rap and Daoqing, which was popular in northern Shanxi, was put on the stage of opera, becoming a popular opera variety among local audiences. Before and after Daoqing in northern Shanxi appeared on the stage of opera, Linxian Daoqing, which was popular in Western Shanxi, also appeared on the stage of opera. Hongdong Daoqing, which was popular in southern Shanxi, also appeared on the stage twice in Xianfeng and Xuantong years, but failed to continue. After the founding of the people's Republic of China, Daoqing plays such as Hedong Daoqing in Jinnan, Shanxi, Zhoukou Daoqing in Henan and Languan opera in Shandong have developed into stage plays.

The early plays of Daoqing mainly reflected the life of Taoism and preached the doctrines of Taoism, such as jingtanghui, erlinying, gaolouzhuang, etc. In the middle stage, most of the plays are stories of Taoist cultivation and good advice, and the representative plays are Wang Xiang lying on ice, Guo Ju burying her son, Xiao Tao grinding, etc. The contents of the plays in the middle and later periods reflect the stories of folk life, and the representative plays include "changing wives between the old and the young", "beating kitchen king", "ceiling lamp", "striking knife" and so on. There are singing tunes in Daoqing operas all over the country. Daoqing opera in northern Shanxi includes playing children, Xijiang moon, and langtaosha. Daoqing opera in Linxian county includes seven character tune, cross tune, Zhongnan tune, luotousha, Yizhimei, taipingnian, and yanzifei. The accompaniment musical instruments of Daoqing opera are dizi, Sihu, dabanhu and xiaobanhu. Except for Yugu and Jianban, other musical instruments in Wuchang are the same as Bangzi. The roles are divided into five elements: Xusheng (Xusheng), Hei (Jingjiao), Sheng (Sheng), Dan (Dan), Chou (Chou).

After the founding of the people's Republic of China, professional Daoqing troupes were established in Yingxian and Linxian counties of Shanxi Province, which further improved and promoted the singing art of Daoqing. After the 1980s, the competition in various forms of art and entertainment has intensified. Daoqing opera has been greatly impacted. There are fewer and fewer amateur folk performances, and professional troupes are in urgent need of rescue and protection.

Longju opera is a unique local opera in Gansu Province, formerly known as Daoqing in Longdong. Daoqing in Longdong originated from Daoqing rap in Han Dynasty, from court to folk in Tang and Song dynasties. Taking root in Longdong, Yugu Daoqing gradually absorbed the nutrition of local folk music, added two strings and other musical instruments, and evolved into shadow play singing music. It was widely spread in Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Northern Shaanxi and the local area after it was reformed by Folk Shadow Puppet artist Xie Changchun (born in Tongzhi period of Qing Dynasty). During the Anti Japanese War, it became a part of the revolutionary culture in the Shaanxi Gansu Ningxia border region. In 1959, Longdong Daoqing drama was moved to the stage. Fengluochi was performed in Jinjing for the 10th anniversary of the national day, which was known as the "wonderful flower in Longdong". Then it toured in more than ten big cities in the north and south of the country, and was deeply loved by the audience. The singing style is a combination of plate, Qupai and Mahuang, which is divided into flower sound and sad sound. The flower sound is bright, cheerful, pleasant, and the sad sound is lyrical, euphemistic and elegant, especially Mahuang. Mahuang is the most characteristic. It has a harmonious singing atmosphere and a warm atmosphere. It has the saying of "one sentence, one spring, two sentences, one gang". The special musical instruments include Longhu, suona, Yugu and shuibangzi. The performance is integrated with the beauty of shadow puppet's silhouette. The stage art draws lessons from shadow puppet's hollowing out, color painting, decorative techniques and high bun swallow tail headdress to form a unique style. Under the strong impact of modern culture, Longju opera is also on the verge of decline. The number of performing groups and performances has dropped sharply, and the inheritance chain has almost been interrupted. Longju opera is in the dilemma of being replaced by major operas and fashion culture. Without attention and protection, Longju opera is bound to become more and more marginalized and even face decline and disappearance.