Meihu (confused drama)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Meihu

Applicant: Xinjiang production and Construction Corps

Project No.: 700

Project No.: Ⅳ - 99

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Beijing

Type: new item

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 Meihu (misty drama)

Applicant: Xinjiang production and Construction Corps

Meihu, also known as "Mihu", "Quzi", "Qingqu", is widely spread in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and other places. There are two theories about the origin of Meihu. One is that it originated from Meixian and Huxian in Shaanxi Province, and got its name because of its location. The other is that it originated from Huayin and Huaxian in Shaanxi Province. It is called charming opera because of its melodious melody. It is called "mixi" for short, and is commonly known as "Mihu".

On the basis of continuous singing of folk songs, Meihu gradually transited from floor stand rap to stage performance. There are two main forms of performance. One is the form of Quyi, which still retains floor stand singing. The libretto is mostly ZheZiXi, which sings to the end and seldom speaks plainly; the other is the form of stage performance, which has white singing and performance, and the choice of Qupai is relatively free. Meihu is a kind of local opera with distinctive characteristics, rich tunes and wide spread area, which plays an important role in Chinese opera culture.

Meihu opera was originally popular in Shaanxi, Gansu and other provinces. It flowed into Xinjiang with the deserters and immigrants from Shaanxi and Gansu in the mid-19th century. After more than 100 years of development and evolution, it has become a popular opera among the people of Xinjiang. It is called "confused opera" locally. It is mainly popular in Wujiaqu, maocaohu, Xinhu, Qitai reclamation area of Xinjiang production and Construction Corps.

In the process of evolution, misty opera absorbed some artistic factors of Xinjiang Quzi opera, Qin opera and other operas, and formed its own unique characteristics. His singing has a strong local flavor, accompanied by Sanxian, erhu, dizi, Bangzi, Lingling, Zhuban and other musical instruments.

In Xinjiang folk, misty opera is handed down by oral and psychological teaching, and there are few written word notation. After the reform and opening up, folk artists and retired employees of BINGTUAN spontaneously organized singing, which restored the traditional operas in this border area to a certain extent. But at present, the old artists are dying gradually, and the living ones are old. There is no successor for the confused drama, which is in danger of being lost. It is urgent to rescue and protect.