Competition

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Saixi

Applicant: Shexian County, Hebei Province

Item No.: 696

Project No.: Ⅳ - 95

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Hebei Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Shexian County, Hebei Province

Protection unit: Shexian Cultural Center

Introduction to the competition:

Applicant: Shexian County, Hebei Province

Saixi, also known as "Sai" or "Saisai", is an ancient opera popular in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, Shaanxi and other regions. Its historical origin and formation time are not recorded. From the performance characteristics such as wearing mask and chasing, it may have the same historical origin with Nuo and its derived Nuo opera formed in the Zhou Dynasty.

The original intention of "competition" is to offer sacrifices, that is, to offer sacrifices to gods with guard of honor, drum music and various operas. The overall performance activities of Saixi include sacrificial ceremony, drama performance, square fire and other parts. The performance is mainly male role, and there is no female role at all in some areas. The performance was accompanied by percussion instruments such as gongs, drums and cymbals. The repertoire varies from place to place, but most of them are historical stories, and there are also works with revolutionary themes. Handan City, Hebei Province, mainly plays in the Three Kingdoms, supplemented by Han Dynasty and Song Dynasty plays; Wu'an city, with dozens of plays, such as Youzhou, Sanguan, Guangwu mountain and Yeda Dengzhou, is more representative; Shexian County, Chi county and Ningwu pass, narrate the historical stories of Shang and Ming Dynasties; Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, has Sanying Zhan Lvbu "Meng Liang steal bone" and other plays are familiar to the audience.

Saixi is a drama form that integrates folk etiquette and performing arts. Its performance is primitive and simple, and its form is more rigorous. It has an extremely important reference value in the study of Chinese opera history and folk history.