South Korea’s “Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the Passing of Literary Master Tang Xianzu” series of events

Wang Fang, vice director of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe in Jiangsu Province, explains the hand gestures of Kunqu opera.

 

 

　　China International Online reports (Reporter Yang Ning): On September 3, the lecture “The Living Heritage of Kunqu Opera,” co‑presented by Wang Fang, Vice President of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe of Jiangsu Province, and Chen Weipeng, Associate Professor at the School of Humanities of Tsinghua University, was successfully held at the China Cultural Center in Seoul, officially kicking off the series of cultural events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the passing of the literary giant Tang Xianzu.

 

　　More than 120 attendees—including Shi Ruilin, Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in South Korea and Director of the Seoul Chinese Culture Center; Sun Yan, Deputy Director of the Center; Professor Wu Xiuqing of the Department of Chinese Language at Hanyang University; Professor Kwon Byeong-woong of the Korean Traditional Music Department at Chung-Ang University; as well as numerous other experts in Chinese cultural studies from Korean universities, heads of Sino-Korean cultural exchange organizations, and enthusiasts of Chinese culture—participated in the event.

 

　　At the lecture, Associate Professor Chen Weipeng began by offering a comprehensive overview of the distinctive features of Chinese opera, along with a biographical sketch of Tang Xianzu and a summary of the plot of his seminal work, “The Peony Pavilion,” thereby providing Korean audiences with essential background knowledge for appreciating Kunqu opera. Following this, Vice Director Wang Fang used a series of vivid, illustrative stills from Kunqu performances, occasionally demonstrating key movements and vocal techniques herself, to guide the audience through a detailed analysis and joint appreciation of Kunqu’s artistry. Her presentation covered such elements as the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe’s lineage and traditions, the “Four Skills” (singing, speaking, acting, and martial arts), and the “Five Methods” (hand gestures, eye expressions, body posture, movement, and footwork).

 

　　To allow the audience to experience the charm of Kunqu opera firsthand, two young performers from the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe of Jiangsu Province presented a live excerpt from “The Peony Pavilion.” With their graceful movements, expressive faces, and mellifluous singing, the actors captivated the audience from the moment they stepped onto the stage; their brilliant performance even prompted spectators to whip out their phones to record it.

 

　　After the lecture, attendees remarked that this hybrid format—combining a talk with performance—was both engaging and helpful in deepening their understanding of Kunqu opera. Many had never heard of Kunqu before; the event not only broadened their horizons and deepened their appreciation for Chinese theater but also heightened their anticipation for the upcoming staging of Kunqu’s “The Peony Pavilion.”

 

　　The lecture held that day marked the inaugural event in a series commemorating the 400th anniversary of the passing of literary giant Tang Xianzu. The series aims to highlight Tang Xianzu’s humanistic thought, his intellectual legacy, and the artistic achievements of Chinese theater, thereby broadening the influence of both Tang Xianzu and Chinese dramatic art. Over the following week, the organizers will also present one lecture at Hanyang University in South Korea, along with four Kunqu opera performances—two at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, one at the Daejeon Yeonting National Music Institute, and one at the Nonsan Culture and Arts Center.

 

　　The series of events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the passing of literary giant Tang Xianzu is co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea, and organized by the Seoul Chinese Cultural Center, the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Province, and Beijing Fengxiang Ledom Digital Music Culture Communication Co., Ltd. It also receives support from the Daejeon Metropolitan City Government, the Nonsan City Government, the Daejeon Chinese Cultural Institute, the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Hanyang University, the Korean Society for Theatre Studies, and the Korean Society for Chinese Opera.