Opera Trivia | Singing Opera Depends Entirely on Vital Energy and Spirit—Techniques for Retaining Breath, Changing Breath, Stealing Breath, and Raising Breath

There’s a common saying in the world of Chinese opera: “To sing, one must rely entirely on spirit and energy.” Among these, qi—vital energy—is especially crucial for singing and recitation; as the saying goes, “qi is the source of sound.” It’s like the wind blowing against a windowpane in winter: the stronger the wind, the louder the sound; the weaker the wind, the softer it becomes. The human voice operates on the same principle. For an actor to have a fine voice, they must possess ample qi—only with sufficient qi can the vocal cavity produce a sweet, resonant tone. To maintain robust qi, one needs a healthy body; this is the fundamental prerequisite. Beyond that, one must also master techniques such as conserving qi, changing breath, borrowing qi, and lifting qi.

Opera Trivia | What Roles Do Fans Play on the Opera Stage?

The preparation of a play’s script is itself a painstaking endeavor, and even the smallest props and every object in the production serve a specific purpose. Items such as curtains, large backdrops, stage sets, tables, and chairs can all be adapted to suit the demands of the drama; thus, even the most modest element bears a profound connection to the theatrical performance.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms at the Soup House | Great Snow

Great Snow is the 21st of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms and the third solar term of winter. When the Dipper points to Ren, the sun reaches a celestial longitude of 255 degrees, and the term begins between December 6 and 8 on the Gregorian calendar each year. As the starting point of the Zi month in the sexagenary cycle, Great Snow officially marks the beginning of mid-winter.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms at the Soup House | Frost’s Descent

At the time of Frost’s Descent, jackals begin to hunt in large numbers; any prey they cannot finish is left behind, as if in a “ritual sacrifice,” and spreading out their catch is their way of giving thanks for nature’s bounty.

5.18 International Museum Day | Fuzhou’s “Three Museums in Concert” Showcases the Power of Museums

Exhibition Hall News | The “Young Docent” Training Program Concludes Successfully

On August 25, the fourth “Young Docent” training program of 2020 at the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou City concluded successfully.