Expert Interview from the Tang Xianzu Academic Symposium (No. 12) | Li Ying: Fuzhou and Jinxi Opera Should Advance in Tandem; Inheriting and Unearthing Their Heritage Is Our Sacred Duty

From November 11 to 12, the 2022 China (Fuzhou) Tang Xianzu Academic Symposium was held in our city. Li Ying, an editor of the Tianjin-based magazine “Jinmen Qu Tan,” granted an exclusive interview to a reporter.

“The brocade chapters of Linchuan, with elegant lines sung throughout the world. Mockery abounds, yet it endures unwarranted slander…” Li Ying was deeply impressed by Zhang Jiqing’s performance of The Peony Pavilion in Tianjin, staged to commemorate the 370th anniversary of Tang Xianzu’s passing. Li Ying remarked, “The Four Dreams of Linchuan” form the very backbone of Tang Xianzu’s dramatic oeuvre, while Tang Xianzu’s plays, in turn, stand as the cornerstone of Kunqu opera. Tang Xianzu enjoys considerable renown not only in the South but has also left an indelible mark on the development of drama in Tianjin and across northern China.

Li Ying has offered her perspective on the future of Tang Xianzu’s dramas and, more broadly, on the development of Kunqu opera. She notes that since the beginning of this year, calls for revitalizing Kunqu have grown increasingly loud. With the support of leaders at all levels, the Chinese Kunqu Opera Research Association has been established, performance activities—both domestic and international—have become more frequent, and Kunqu is beginning to make inroads into universities. Li Ying argues that a pressing priority in the current effort to rejuvenate Kunqu is the thorough exploration and inheritance of its traditional repertoire. This work of preserving what has been lost and reviving what has fallen into obscurity is indispensable; indeed, this year many rare excerpts from classic plays have already been presented to audiences across various regions. However, relying solely on such short scenes over the long term will prove insufficient. At present, full-length chuanqi operas remain difficult to stage, which necessitates that practitioners devote greater effort to adapting scripts—striving for artistic excellence while also taking into account the political impact of their works.

(Text by intern reporter Liu Yixin, Photos by reporter Li Jiang)