National ICH: Minxi Han Opera

Minxi Han Opera, formerly known as waijiang xi or luantan, is a major traditional opera genre in East China's Fujian province. It belongs to the xipi and erhuang vocal systems, both commonly used in Peking Opera. It is popular in western Fujian province, eastern Guangdong province, Taiwan and other regions, with its influence reaching Southeast Asia.

Luantan (literally "random pluck") was introduced to western Fujian province during the Qianlong period (1735-1796) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and had developed into a distinct regional opera by the Jiaqing period (1796-1820) of the Qing Dynasty. In the early 1930s, it was named Han Opera but was renamed Minxi Han Opera in the late 1950s to distinguish it from Hubei's Han Opera.

Minxi Han Opera preserves 836 traditional plays, including representative works such as The Drunken Garden and Shiqian Steals a Chicken. The role system includes six types: Sheng (the main male role), Dan (the female role), Chou (the male clown), Gong (the older male role), Po (the older female role), and Jing (the male role with distinctive personality traits or striking facial features).

The opera absorbs vocal styles from the local folk melodies and Taoist music of the western and southern parts of Fujian province. Spoken and vocal lines adopt tuguan hua, combining the local official dialect and Minxi dialect. Instrumental arrangement centers on diaogui (the leading instrument shaped like an ox horn), tihu (a string instrument), yangqin (a struck instrument), xiao sanxian (a three-stringed Chinese lute).

Minxi Han Opera shares historical roots with luantan and Hubei's Han Opera. Today it is at risk of disappearing and needs urgent preservation.

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