Dixi, ancient opera in Tunpu Village
In Anshun Dixi opera is an integral part of Tunpu culture.
Dixi is an ancient opera in Tunpu, there is an old theatre where you can watch 30 minute show.
All actors are local people. There are anywhere from 40-50 to more than 100 masks in an opera.
The audiences stand on high spots nearby to get a better view of the performance. Battles are a popular theme in the opera
Where there is Tunpu village, there is Dixi opera. Dixi is also called “sorcerer’s dance in a trance”, belonging to Jun Nuo (i.e. military ritual to exorcize ghosts that bring diseases).
The history of Dixi Opera
Dixi is a unique culture deriving from Jun Nuo of early Ming Dynasty. It develops from military Nuo to civilian Nuo, from Nuo show to Nuo opera, and it is the product of two-way choice from Nuo ritual and Nuo opera. With the passage of the time, dixi opera gradually turns into a free gathering entertainment in Tunpu villages.
Generally speaking, one village organizes one or two performance groups. During the Spring Festival, the players perform not on stage but on vacant land near the village, with the size of the playing area determined by the number of masked actors involved in the performance.
Battles are a popular theme in the dramas, which are adapted from such traditional favorites as Romance of the three Kingdoms, History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and Generals of the Yang Family. Aggressive looking, Dixi operas celebrate the wars and ancient heroes of this nation.
The earliest record of Dixi opera is seen in Local Records of Huizhou during the reign of Jia Jing in Ming Dynasty, in which ancient funny comedies, Didi dance, Hu dance and masked opera are performed to welcome Wang Gong in Shezhou, Anhui. Carrying Wang Gong of Dixi opera in Anshui villages can be traced to the same origin of masked opera. Dixi opera, its chief purpose is to carry out military practice, strengthen defense preparations and improve battle efficiency of southward troops. On the other hand, Dixi aims to satisfy cultural and spiritual requirements for the troops and local people. Through the inheritance and development by Tunpu people, Dixi forms a unique opera in the world.
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