National ICH: Gaojia Opera (Ke School)

Gaojia Opera (Ke School), also known as Ke Xianxi's performing arts and colloquially referred to as Xiao Luoxi's performing arts, is a traditional art form popular in the southern Fujian region.

The comic performance art of the Ke School of Gaojia Opera originated in injiang city, a county-level city in Quanzhou, Fujian province, in 1930. It later gained prominence in 1935, and reached artistic peak by 1952. Ke School of Gaojia Opera has been included as an extended item in the first batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage representative projects under the category of traditional drama.

It is one of the most celebrated branches of Gaojia Opera for its Quanzhou-style string and wind music which accopmanies its libretto. While it inherites the diverse artistic strength of Gaojia Opera, it has developed its own distinctive style and performance features.

The performance art is characteriszed by its male and female comic roles. Male comic roles include the "ragged-clown", the "young master clown", and the "puppet-style clown", while female comic roles are known for their fiery, lively, exaggerated, and humorous performances, exuding a strong rustic charm. This art form has long been popular among the people of southern Fujian for its accessible and relatable appeal.

Beyond the comic relief, it serves as a microcosm of the social development of the Southern Min-speaking communities, representing a precious cultural heritage of Minnan history and culture.