Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911)

Traditional Chinese operas in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) embraced unprecedented prosperity. During the three hundred years from the 15th to the 18th centuries, the Chuanqi Opera developed rapidly with its increasingly comprehensive performance system, promoting the formation of many singing styles and opera genres.

The Kunqu Opera declined in the middle of the 18th century due to its excessive elegance. Meanwhile, the luantan singing styles flourished and broke through the musical style of the Chuanqi Opera. Among the luantan styles, Bangzi and Pihuang were the most developed and nourished representative operas of their own, such as the Qinqiang and Peking operas.

Fancun village drama stage, Ming Dynasty

Located in Fancun village, Shanxi province, the drama stage was established in 1391 in the Ming Dynasty and was refurbished in 1468. Originally the main building on the central axis of the Guandi Temple in the village, the stage faces north and is built with a gable and hip roof with single eave, and covers a construction area of more than 160 square meters. It provides rich materials for the study of the local folk culture.

Clay figurines of Kunqu Opera characters, Qing Dynasty

These clay figurines reflect a scene from the Kunqu Opera production Tale of the Pipa, in which the heroine Zhao Wuniang (in white dress and black upper outer garment) wants to sell a strand of hair for money but no one responds to her. The Grandfather Zhang gives her some cloth, money and rice, and Zhao expresses her thanks and asks Zhang to take the hair.

Grand Theatre Tower at Prince Kung’s Palace, Qing Dynasty

The Grand Theater Tower of Prince Kung’s Palace was built during the Tongzhi period (1862-1874) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It used to be where Prince Kung and his family and friends watched traditional Chinese operas. Covering a construction area of more than 600 square meters, the tower adopted a fully enclosed structure without using nails and is known for its fantastic acoustics. The stage was hollowed out and several large tanks were placed inside to increase the resonance and reverberation, so that the audience could clearly hear the singing of the performers at any position in the theater without any aids.