Huaibing Liu
School of Fine Arts, Anhui Professional College of Art, Hefei, Anhui, China.
*Corresponding author: Huaibing Liu
Abstract
Hui opera originated in Shipai town, Anhui Province. Yangzhou served as the origin of this art form, and Hui opera was spread by Huizhou merchants. However, stories from operas were seldom depicted in wood carvings used to distinguish and adorn buildings. Kunqu opera was an early original style, showcased in over one hundred operas, which rivaled Hui opera. This competition facilitated the flourishing of both opera styles, leading to the creation of buildings adorned with wood carvings that unified the two styles into an aesthetically pleasing system of opera wood carvings. When the rural culture of Huizhou intersected with the urban cultures of Yangzhou and Suzhou, the art forms of opera and wood carving in buildings merged to create an expression that has been referenced and used as an influence, capturing the deep-rooted meaning of these cultures through the aesthetic aspects of the buildings. Historical transformations depicting changes over time can be used to illustrate the rise and fall of opera in this era. The evolution and performance of Hui opera's style are dynamically presented and preserved in material form by buildings adorned with wood carvings, effec-tively capturing this art form in time.
References
Cao, Z., Mustafa, M.B. A Study of Ornamental Craftsmanship in Doors and Windows of Hui-Style Architecture: The Huizhou Three Carvings (Brick, Stone, and Wood Carvings). Buildings 2023, 13, 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020351.
Chen, X. (2017). The Flourishing Performance and Social Functions of Hui Opera in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Agricultural Archaeology (1), 232-237.
Hong, F. (1984). Informal Discussion on the Rise and Fall of Hui Opera. The Art of Opera (1), 27-37+102.
Li, D., & Pan, A. Q. D. (2014). Yangzhou Pleasure Boat Annals. China Pictorial Publishing House.
Liu, S. (1990). Hui Troupe in Beijing and the Change of Huizhou Opera in the South. The Art of Opera (1), 38-43.
Peng, Q. (2016). A Detailed Examination of the History of Opera in Yangzhou and Suzhou in Qianlong Years – A Concurrent Discussion on the Contest Between Hua Tune and Ya Tune. Chinese Traditional Opera (2), 166-178.
Wang, C. (2005). Hui Troupe and Hui Opera. Jianghuai Culture History (1), 159-161.
Xu, K. Q. D. (2010). Classified Notes of Qing Dynasty. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.
Zhang, Y., & Wang, H. (2001). The Art of Yangzhou Architectural Carving. Nanjing: Southeast University Press.
Zhao, J. Q. D. (2008). Ji Yuan Ji Suo Ji. Hefei: Huangshan Publishing House.
How to cite this paper
Hui Opera and Buildings with Wood Carvings—Interpreting Opera House Wood Carvings During the Rise and Fall of Hui Opera
How to cite this paper: Huaibing Liu. (2023) Hui Opera and Buildings with Wood Carvings—Interpreting Opera House Wood Carvings During the Rise and Fall of Hui Opera. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 7(11), 2322-2329.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2023.11.032