Luantanis also namedBangziorHuabu. Sometimes it also refers toQingqiang, the main genre ofBangziopera.
From the mid-Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), various forms of local opera flourished. Except forKunqu,which was on the decline, they were all called local operas. Of these local operas,Bangzi, PihuangandXiansuooccupied the leading position during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795). At that time,Kunqurepresented the refined, while local operas represented the popular, as they featured folk music.
Bangziwas then a general term used for local operas inShanxi,Shaanxi,Henan,Hebeiand Shangdong provinces. So sometimes we call Henan opera HenanBangzi.
It is also said thatLuantanin the past was also used to refer to all local operas exceptKunqu.
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