Pingjiang Opera

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2011-03-31

Pingjiang Opera is a predecessor of Foochow Opera. It originated in Pingnan and is popular in the northeast of Fujian. The opera is performed in the local dialect and is sung in a near-speaking style. Pingjiang Opera evolved from “Carrying Story” or “Shoulder Tent”, popular in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. During performances, a little actor was carried by an adult and would perform to the beating of gongs and drums. This folk play was simple and primitive.

Later on, folk songs, popular music and a Pinghua Tune were introduced and more musical instruments were adopted. By the mid Qing Dynasty, mobile troupes performing Siping Opera, Hui Tunes, Peking Opera, Luoluo Tunes and other non-local tunes arrived in the countryside of eastern Fujian. As they spoke non-local dialects, which were known as the “official dialect” by local people, they were not accepted by the villagers. For this reason, the performers recruited many local people to teach them their performances, and they adopted the local accent.

In turn, for survival and development, the small local troupes also appointed wandering performers to teach them their performance styles, so local players came to absorb the old opera programs and tunes.