The Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou is a comprehensive cultural venue built to commemorate Tang Xianzu, one of the world’s hundred great cultural figures and a master of Ming‑dynasty drama in China. It is also one of Jiangxi Province’s ten major memorial halls dedicated to historical luminaries.
Opera Trivia | Learn the “Secret Language” of the Opera World and Instantly Become an Opera Expert (Part 1)
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Time:
2023-01-11
"Disconnection"
The play on stage has reached its finale, yet the next act has not yet been properly prepared—this is called a break in continuity.
“Bright Field”
Because the music kept playing despite the break, and the actors had not appeared on stage for a long time, it was called “liangchang.”
"Colored Money"
Also known as “black money,” it is worn by actors portraying mourners in mourning attire, those donning various animal costumes, and those playing corpses or deities and spirits—each of these roles is adorned with colored coins.
“Front!”
They had never exchanged a laugh or a jest; yet suddenly, one of them joked, saying, “That was just now.”
"Air chair"
When a character in the play, provoked to anger, dies of a heart attack, it is called “qi chair.”
“ Black Pestle
When actors are burdened with excessive expenses, they secretly hand over a sum of money beyond their allotted share, ensuring that outsiders remain unaware; this practice is known as “hei chu.” Likewise, amateur performers who discreetly offer monetary gifts during a performance are also referred to as “hei chu.”
“Whole leg”
When an actor’s share of the proceeds is not paid according to the original agreement, it is referred to as “full leg.”
“Don’t worry”
Also known as the “Anyan Thief,” this refers to one who acts and speaks without any sense of restraint.
“Incision”
The spoken lines retain a strong local accent.
“Seat bag”
Whenever a theatrical performance is held, the roles are often insufficient to accommodate all the performers, so several individuals must be appointed to fill in for minor parts. When a role becomes vacant, they step in immediately; only after the play concludes can they be relieved of their duties. A “zuo bao” refers to a situation where the entire day’s performances are contracted to a single person, who must remain on stage and take over for others—this is also known as a “di bao.”
“ Subcontracting
The so‑called “division of roles” refers to assigning supporting parts; any actor of talent usually feels hemmed in by others, but when the opportunity arises to take on a share of the roles, they can seize it and break free.
“Full box”
For a performance in a single day, when all the costumes are complete, it is said to have “advanced the full box.”
"Soft packaging"
To save money, costumes are made to suit the play; this is called “qi rou bao.”
Single Excerpt
When an actor wears a special costume for a performance, it is called “dan zhai”; this practice is common among amateur performers.
“Beast Form”
The term “playing a bird or beast” refers to performers who portray animals; each time they take on such a role, they are invariably paid an additional fee—this is a standard practice in the backstage world.
"Release water"
When singing, one may suddenly forget the lyrics and casually borrow lines from other plays—this is called “fàng shuǐ.”
“Rate Chamber”
When singing, if one suddenly produces a beautifully modulated voice that takes the audience by surprise and wins their full admiration, this is called “shuai qiang,” also known as “zhen shuai.”
"Poverty accent"
When the vocal range is stretched and the pitch modulated at will, producing peculiar sounds that are grating to the ear, this is called “poor singing.”
"Passing Harmony"
When the two sides in a martial match exchange positions, it is called “guo he.”
"Managing Affairs"
The title of “backstage steward.”
"Interweave"
This is what is meant by “nothing can be done without drama.”
"Flattery"
One who is able to accept guidance from others is said to be submissive and compliant; otherwise, one is not submissive or compliant.
"Bo Shang"
It is known as giving one’s all in a performance.
"Corridor"
In the play, the character who portrays the temple official is called a “guodao.”
“Take the Bridge”
To inflate one’s own value and deliberately make things difficult for others on the spot is called “taking the bridge.”
"Colored Money"
Also known as “black money,” it is worn by actors portraying mourners in mourning attire, those donning various animal costumes, and those playing corpses or deities and spirits—each of these roles is adorned with colored coins.
“Front!”
They had never exchanged a laugh or a jest; yet suddenly, one of them joked, saying, “That was just now.”
"Air chair"
When a character in the play, provoked to anger, dies of a heart attack, it is called “qi chair.”
“ Black Pestle
When actors are burdened with excessive expenses, they secretly hand over a sum of money beyond their allotted share, ensuring that outsiders remain unaware; this practice is known as “hei chu.” Likewise, amateur performers who discreetly offer monetary gifts during a performance are also referred to as “hei chu.”
“Whole leg”
When an actor’s share of the proceeds is not paid according to the original agreement, it is referred to as “full leg.”
“Don’t worry”
Also known as the “Anyan Thief,” this refers to one who acts and speaks without any sense of restraint.
“Incision”
The spoken lines retain a strong local accent.
“Seat bag”
Whenever a theatrical performance is held, the roles are often insufficient to accommodate all the performers, so several individuals must be appointed to fill in for minor parts. When a role becomes vacant, they step in immediately; only after the play concludes can they be relieved of their duties. A “zuo bao” refers to a situation where the entire day’s performances are contracted to a single person, who must remain on stage and take over for others—this is also known as a “di bao.”
“ Subcontracting
The so‑called “division of roles” refers to assigning supporting parts; any actor of talent usually feels hemmed in by others, but when the opportunity arises to take on a share of the roles, they can seize it and break free.
“Full box”
For a performance in a single day, when all the costumes are complete, it is said to have “advanced the full box.”
"Soft packaging"
To save money, costumes are made to suit the play; this is called “qi rou bao.”
Single Excerpt
When an actor wears a special costume for a performance, it is called “dan zhai”; this practice is common among amateur performers.
“Beast Form”
The term “playing a bird or beast” refers to performers who portray animals; each time they take on such a role, they are invariably paid an additional fee—this is a standard practice in the backstage world.
"Release water"
When singing, one may suddenly forget the lyrics and casually borrow lines from other plays—this is called “fàng shuǐ.”
“Rate Chamber”
When singing, if one suddenly produces a beautifully modulated voice that takes the audience by surprise and wins their full admiration, this is called “shuai qiang,” also known as “zhen shuai.”
"Poverty accent"
When the vocal range is stretched and the pitch modulated at will, producing peculiar sounds that are grating to the ear, this is called “poor singing.”
"Passing Harmony"
When the two sides in a martial match exchange positions, it is called “guo he.”
"Managing Affairs"
The title of “backstage steward.”
"Interweave"
This is what is meant by “nothing can be done without drama.”
"Flattery"
One who is able to accept guidance from others is said to be submissive and compliant; otherwise, one is not submissive or compliant.
"Bo Shang"
It is known as giving one’s all in a performance.
"Corridor"
In the play, the character who portrays the temple official is called a “guodao.”
“Take the Bridge”
To inflate one’s own value and deliberately make things difficult for others on the spot is called “taking the bridge.”
(Still from a performance by the Fuzhou Municipal Center for Cultural and Artistic Development)
Reference: “Historical Materials on Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera of the Republic of China: Anecdotes from the Opera World”
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