Hainanzhai Opera

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Hainan zhaixi

Applicant: Haikou City, Hainan Province

Project No.: 1120

Project No.: Ⅳ - 158

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Hainan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Haikou City, Hainan Province

Protection unit: Haikou Mass Art Museum (Haikou Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center)

Hainan Zhai Opera

Applicant: Haikou City, Hainan Province

Hainanzhai opera is a kind of sacrificial folk opera popular in Hainan Province. It was born in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. As a ritual opera, Hainan Zhai opera is similar to Nuo opera in northern China. Therefore, there is a saying that there are Nuo opera in the north and Zhai opera in the south. It originated from the folk sacrificial ceremony in Hainan. With the introduction of foreign operas, the sacrificial ceremony absorbed the nutrition of "performing stories by singing and dancing", and developed into Zhai opera. Qiong opera, the largest local opera in Hainan, was born out of Zhai opera. Now people say "watching Zhai" when they watch Qiong opera. Hainan Zhai opera is mainly composed of Hainan folk tunes, which are greatly influenced by Cantonese Opera in the process of development. The plate cavity includes middle plate, digital plate, free plate, Chengtu, ancient cavity and so on. Dan foot and net foot sing with false voice, the rest of the business use their own voice. The main accompaniment musical instruments are Zhuhu, suona, daguanxiao and Sanxian.

Zhai opera has become the carrier of preserving Hainan traditional culture and art by integrating Hainan folk stories, ballads, folk opera, music, acrobatics, crafts and other artistic elements. Zhai opera is the product of folk activities. It entertains both gods and people. It is also a spiritual link to connect Qiong overseas Chinese.

Due to the impact of fashion culture, Zhai opera is on the verge of being lost and in urgent need of protection.