Qinqiang: The Enduring Legacy of China's Ancient Clapper Opera
Qinqiang originated from folk songs and dances in ancient Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. It grew and flourished in Chang'an (now Xi'an), the ancient political, economic and cultural center of China. It is one of the oldest Chinese Han ethnic dramas, with profound historical background and unique artistic charm.
Since the Zhou Dynasty, the Guanzhong plain has been known as "Qin", and thus the Qin Opera got its name. The main rhythmic instrument of Qin Opera is the jujube wood clapper, so it is also called "clapper opera".
During the Ming Dynasty, Qinqiang Opera entered a period of great development. Different styles of Qinqiang Opera emerged based on the various local dialects within Shaanxi Province. The Qing Dynasty was an important period for the wide spread and development of Qinqiang Opera. With social stability and economic prosperity, Qinqiang Opera not only took root in Shaanxi, Gansu and other places, but also spread throughout the country and even overseas. In places like Beijing, Qinqiang Opera was highly praised for its unique artistic charm and became a rare flower on the theatrical stage of the capital at that time.
The singing style of Qin Opera is characterized by both a deep and resonant, tragic and high-pitched, and passionate and vigorous tone, as well as a tender and sentimental, delicate and gentle, and lively and cheerful quality. The performance skills of Qin Opera are simple, bold, and unrestrained, with a strong sense of exaggeration, a strong flavor of life, and rich techniques. All kinds of body movements and special skills are included.
The roles in Qin Opera are classified into thirteen categories and twenty-eight types, with meticulous classification and strict distinction. The repertoire of Qin Opera encompasses myths, folk tales, and various historical dramas. Many of the plays depict significant themes such as anti-invasion wars, struggles between the righteous and the wicked, and resistance against oppression in Chinese history, as well as those with rich life interests.
Qinqiang Opera was included in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006 and is a treasure in the cultural treasury of the Chinese nation. Qinqiang Opera carries the spiritual sustenance of the people in the vast western regions and serves as a means for people to exchange emotions, fully demonstrating its historical significance and practical functions. Nowadays, Qinqiang Opera can be seen in movies, animations, and galas, and more interestingly, it forms a clever East-West correspondence with rock music of similar style. The interaction between the two enables the audience to feel the commonalities of human civilization.
