Gui Opera
Gui Opera came into being in Ming and Qing Dynasties and became a popular art form in Guilin and north regions to Guilin. Early tourists from Anhui Province introduced the Anhui Tune in Guilin, and the Anhui Tune developed into Gui Tune later. Melting with palace opera of Jingjiang Palace and folk opera introduced by musicians from palace in Ming dynasty, Gui Opera performed in Guilin local dialect then formed with Gao, Kun, Chui, Tan, and Za tunes. In 1950, Bracelet, a show of the Gui Opera by Guilin Gui Opera Troupe had won the second prize in performances and the first prize for its performers in China Opera Show. The Legend of Concubine Yao, a new play by the troupe, had been awarded the Wenhua Prize by China Cultural Administration.
Cai Tune
Cai Tune in Guilin is the earliest popular folk opera form to the north of Guilin. Male players use colorful fans, while the female players walk in small steps with colorful handkerchiefs. They play actively, singing and dancing at the same time. Sister Liusanjie, a Cai Tune play had been adapted for the movie, which made it even more famous.
Wenchang
It is a kind of performance where local people sing in local dialects with folk music. It is characterized by its pureness and elegance. It has survived for 200 years and is widely appreciated.
Gongcheng Tanxi
Tanxi, also known as Ghost Opera was developed in Tan dance. Tanxi is different from ordinary operas. It has no roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou, and also has no specialized and standardized playing procedures. Normally, Tanxi is played by 1 to 3 persons in colorful clothes and masks. The performance is influenced by Cai Tune and it absorbs the tunes of Cai Tune. Tanxi has no special troupes and mainly performs on occasions of praying and offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors.
Exorcizement Dance (Nuowu)
Performers put on wood-carving masks and dance in an eccentric manner. Such performances are usually about folk legends.
Linglingluo
A Linglingluo is performed by one actor. It is actually a narrative song spiced with humorous soliloquies.
Yugu
Yugu is actually a percussion instrument made of Bamboo. A Yugu performance is a chant of folk tales to the accompaniment of such an instrument.
Folk Art Forms
The folk art forms mainly include Wenchang, Yugu, Dagu, Linglingluo, and Tanci. With special Guilin characteristics, these folk art forms are performed in Guilin local dialect and are melted with folk songs in South China, Dagu in North china and Tanci in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
In 1962, a professional folk arts troupe was founded in Guilin and it had almost 100 plays up to 1991. Representing Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it had participated in the China National Folk Art Forms Show for 4 times. The play of Wu’niang Going to the Capital won the first prize in 1981. The plays of Toasting, Qingwen Sewing the Clothes, and New Official Taking Position of Linglingluo, won prizes in 1986 and 1990. The play of Chunlan Yin had been rewarded the Wenhua Prize in 1997. |
