Year: 2006

Sort: Traditional Operas

Area:Hunan Province

Serial No.: IV-13

Declarer: Hengyang City, Hunan Province

Hunan Province is also known as 'Xiang'. . The Xiang Opera, a major local opera in Hunan Province, formed during theMing Dynasty(1368-1644) and is popular in parts of Hunan and Guangdong rovinces in southern China. The opera was based in the capitalChangshaand in Xiangtan, hence the name Changsha Xiang Opera.

KunquOpera is one of the oldest forms of opera that still exists in China, with origins dating back to theYuan dynasty(1271-1368). It is distinguished by the virtuosity of its rhythmic patterns (called changqiang) and has exerted a dominant influence on all the more recent forms of opera in China, including Sichuan andBeijingoperas.