which dynasty includes kunqu

What does Kunqu stand for?

Kunqu ( Chinese: 崑曲 ), also known as Kunju ( 崑劇 ), K'un-ch'ü, Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the local melody of Kunshan, and subsequently came to dominate Chinese theater from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area.

When did Kunqu become popular in China?

About the middle of the 18th century, during the Qing dynasty, it was gradually replaced in popularity by jingxi (Peking opera). Kunqu has distinctive features in its musical performance. It is so mild, exquisite, sentimental, and melodious that it is commonly called shuimodiao (“water-polished music”).

What is the history of Kunqu opera?

With a long history of over 600 years, Kunqu Opera originated in Qiandun Town, Kunshan County of Jiangsu Province at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271AD-1368AD), and it became quite popular in China in the Ming (1368AD-1644AD) and Qing (1644AD-1911AD) Dynasties.

What is the relationship between kunqu and chuanqi?

Kunqu performance is closely inter-related with the performance of many other styles of Chinese musical theater, including Peking opera, which contains much Kunqu repertoire. The emergence of chuanqi plays, commonly sung to Kunqu, is said to have ushered in a "second Golden Era of Chinese drama".

Which is the most famous Kunqu Opera?

The Peony PavilionThe most famous of Kunqu opera is The Peony Pavilion written by Tang Xianzu. Other important works include The Peach Blossom Fan, and The Palace of Eternal Life.

What is Kunju in China?

Kunqu is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera and has greatly influenced the rest of Chinese theater. It combines drama, opera, ballet, poetry and music recital, as well as elements from earlier Chinese theater such as mime, farce, acrobatics, ballad recitals, and medleys.

What are some of the defining characteristics of Kunqu?

Kunqu has distinctive features in its musical performance. It is so mild, exquisite, sentimental, and melodious that it is commonly called shuimodiao (“water-polished music”). The libretto usually focuses on a story of romantic love. Kunqu singing emphasizes control of the voice and changes in rhythms.

How do you pronounce Kunqu?

Kunqu (pronounced kwin chu) is one of the oldest and most refined styles of traditional Chinese theatre performed today.

When Did Chinese opera begin?

The history of Chinese opera can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms Period (A.D. 220–265), when a form of opera called Canjun was popular among the general public. Chinese opera became more formalized during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618–907), under Emperor Li Longji (reigned A.D. 712–756).

How many types of Chinese operas are there?

There are five main types of Chinese Han opera: Beijing, Henan, Huangmei, Yue, and Cantonese Opera.

Which type of Chinese drama is spoken in the Peking dialect?

Although widely practised throughout China, its performance centres on Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. Peking opera is sung and recited using primarily Beijing dialect, and its librettos are composed according to a strict set of rules that prize form and rhyme.

What do you call the female roles in Peking Opera?

Dan roleDan is the general name for female roles in Chinese opera, often referring to leading roles. They may be played by male or female actors. In the early years of Peking opera, all dan roles were played by men, but this practice is no longer common in any Chinese opera genre.

How do you pronounce Qanuk?

Qanuk (pronounced ka-nook) means snowflake in Yupik and is the name we've given our mascot.

How do you say kun in Japanese?

1:392:36Japanese Honorific Titles: San, Sama, Kun, and Chan - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLike you Jung Hanna tell me any Jung. And you can use it for your female friends as.MoreLike you Jung Hanna tell me any Jung. And you can use it for your female friends as.

How do you pronounce the name NCT?

0:075:36Guide to Pronouncing NCT Names - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip입니다.More입니다.

How do you spell kun?

0:291:29Correct spelling for kun. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKay you and Coon kay you ehn foon k u n turn reference you please subscribe to our Channel you.MoreKay you and Coon kay you ehn foon k u n turn reference you please subscribe to our Channel you.

Where did Kunqu originate?

The style originated in the Wu cultural area. It has been listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2001. American arts magazine TeRra Magazine acclaimed Kunqu one of the most elegant entertainment performing arts.

What is Kunqu performance?

Kunqu performance is closely inter-related with the performance of many other styles of Chinese musical theater, including Peking opera, which contains much Kunqu repertoire. The emergence of chuanqi plays, commonly sung to Kunqu, is said to have ushered in a "second Golden Era of Chinese drama".

When did Mei perform Kunqu?

In the 1930s Mei performed kunqu in the United States and the Soviet Union and was well received. Its melody or tune is one of the Four Great Characteristic Melodies in Chinese opera. In 2006, Zhou Bing acted as a producer and art director for KunQu (Kun Opera) of sexcentenary.

Who was Gu Jian?

Gu Jian, allegedly a transmitter of the Kunshan music in the Yuan dynasty. A Kunqu performer's portrayal of Hu Sanniang. Kunqu singing techniques are said to have been developed during the Ming Dynasty by Wei Liang Fu in the port of Taicang, but linked to the songs of nearby Kunshan.

What is the oldest form of Chinese opera?

Kunqu ( Chinese: 崑曲 ), also known as Kunju ( 崑劇 ), K'un-ch'ü, Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the local melody of Kunshan, and subsequently came to dominate Chinese theater from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area.

Where does Kunqu come from?

Since Kunqu Opera comes from southern China and has been influenced by the dramas and operas in northern China, it now has a mixing musical accompaniment of both areas. Kunqu Opera takes in a lot of different crooked cards shaped from the ancient dancing songs, poetries of Tang (A.D. 618-907) and Song (A.D. 960-1279) dynasties, folk songs of different ethnic groups, so the music is much of traditional Chinese style. Furthermore, traditional Chinese musical instruments like Sheng, Xiao, Suona horn, Sanxian, Pipa, etc. together make distinct but songful accompaniment for every Kunqu Opera.

How many characters are there in Kunqu?

Characters. There are basically five characters in Kunqu Opera, namely Dan, Sheng, Jing, Mo, and Chou. Each one has their only personal characteristics and is indispensable in this artistic performance. Dan (旦): All the women characters are called Dan in Kunqu.

What is Kunqu Opera?

Kunqu Opera originated from Kunshan in Suzhou city is an old drama style listed as a “ Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity ” by the UNESCO in 2001. It is one of the oldest traditional operas of the Han nationality and is also a treasure of the traditional culture and art. Beginning from the late Yuan Dynasty (middle period of 14th century), Kunqu is over 600 years old and is reputed as the “ ancestor of Chinese dramas ” and the “ mother of Chinese operas ”.

How many people can be in Suzhou Kunqu Theater?

In the newly built theater, there is a grand luxurious stage and auditorium that can contain 319 people, with superb visual and audio effect.

Why is Kunqu Opera so famous?

Because Kunqu Opera is regarded as the treasure of Chinese traditional culture and art, it has a series of very excellent plays from the ancient times.

How old is Kun Opera Museum?

Kun Opera Museum. Kun Opera Museum (中国昆曲博物馆) is over 30 years old with abundant treasurable materials, costumes, delicate ancient stage, etc. of Kunqu Opera. It is a good place to get an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Kunqu Opera.

What are the costumes of Kunqu?

Apart from the costumes in a Yuan and Ming dynasties style, others which are similar to the very popular garments and dressings of people in that period can also often be seen on the stage, such as the martial attires, clothes of officials of different levels and positions, etc.

How many actors are in Kunqu?

Generally speaking, a traditional Kunqu Opera troupe only needs 18 actors and actresses in total. Only in a few very big opera troupes, there are twenty-seven performers. Normally a troupe that has ten performers that contain all the main types of characters could give performances and other characters in need could be replaced by those whose roles are similar types. The ten performers mentioned above are also called 'Ten Main Pillars' of the troupe, and they are Jing, Guansheng, Jisheng, Laosheng, Mo, Zhengdan, Wudan, Liudan, Fu, and Chou, and the quality of the performance mainly depends on the acting of four roles, including Jing, Laosheng, Guansheng, and Zhengdan.

What are the different types of Kunqu opera characters?

Dan: Dan refers to the female characters in Kunqu Opera and it includes five different types as Laodan, Zhengdan, Sidan, Wudan, and Liudan. Laodan refers to the old female characters, such as Mrs. Cui in opera Nanxixiang, Zhengdan refers to the middle-aged female characters who have had a lot of hard experiences and are quite strong-willed, such as Mrs. Cui in opera Cankeshan, Sidan refers to the female characters who are good at martial arts, and it is also called Murder Roles, such as Feizhene in opera Tieguantu. Wudan, which is also called Boudoir Roles, refers to young female beautiful characters who have got married and they are always the main female characters in love stories, such as Duliniang in the Peony Pavilion. Liudan always refers to young maids or servants of Wudan and they are most of the time also main characters in the opera, such as Hongniang in the opera Nanxixiang.

Where is Kunqu Opera performed?

Originally, Kunqu Opera was performed in the Suzhou vocal cavity , however, after being spread to other places, it was combined with the different local dialects and folk music, and therefore there came the various groups of Kunqu Opera, which made the Kunqu family much more colorful and abundant, at last, Kunqu Opera became one of the most representative national operas of China. Kunqu Opera was developed to its golden age during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1735AD-1796AD) of the Qing Dynasty. From then on, it continued to be the No 1 opera on the stages of China in the following six hundred years. Nowadays it has become one of the oldest operas with a splendid tradition and history both at home and abroad.

Where did Kunqu opera take place?

At the end of Emperor Wanli's reign (in the 1620s), as a result of the widespread performance, Kunqu Opera was spread to other places such as Beijing City and Hunan Province through the city of Yangzhou, and it quickly became the No. 1 opera as well as the only one standard singing style for the performance of different poetic dramas in many areas of China. At that time there was a popular saying which went like this, 'Kunqu Opera was always performed in whatever opera stages of whatever places in China'. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Kunqu Opera was spread to provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangdong, etc, and it became an opera enjoying national popularity.

What is the oldest opera in China?

As the traditional cultural art of the Chinese nation, Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest traditional Chinese operas and also a rare art treasure in the opera family. It has been called an orchid from the spring garden. The operas that had the widest influence in China between the middle age of the Ming Dynasty and the middle age ...

How many roles does Kunqu have?

Generally, Kunqu has 12 well-defined role types, including seven chief role types: sheng, dan, jing, mo, chou, wai and tie, and also five supporting role types: xiaosheng, xiaodan, xiaomo, xiaowai and xiaojing. Among them, dan is for young women, sheng for young men, chou for clowns, jing for painted faces (special male characters), wai for old male characters and tie for old female characters.

Why are the Kunqu plays called "Peony Pavilion"?

They are so called because in each of the plays the writer weaves stories together around a number of dreams. HelloRF. “Peony Pavilion,” a love story written by Tang Xianzu, one of the greatest Chinese playwrights, is the very best of all Kunqu plays.

What was the most influential form of Chinese theater?

In the following 200 years, Kunqu became the most influential and prestigious form of Chinese theaters.

Overview

History

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