Present and Future of Modernization of Traditional Chinese Opera

Traditional Chinese opera, represented by Kunqu opera(崑曲) and Peking opera(京劇), has developed substantial numbers of repertories for centuries with its own peculiar performing style and aesthetic principles. However, the long and supreme tradition of Chinese opera had been forced to adjust when they experienced chaotic political upheavals such as the aggressive penetration of the western powers in the nineteenth century and the devastating internal conflicts including the Chinese Civil War and the Culture Revolution in the twentieth century. Through the rejection and revival of its tradition, Chinese opera has been dramatically reshaped toward "modernized" direction, by reflecting their political agendas and social issues, which brought significant changes and improvements in an innovative way throughout various areas of Chinese opera, including repertories, subject matters and contents of scripts, acting, directing, stage settings, policies, etc. From the beginning of the twenty-first century, Chinese government is sponsoring two notable projects in the field of art, Intangible Cultural Heritage (非物質文化遺産名錄), and National Masterpieces of Stage Art (國家舞臺藝術精品工程). Since Chinese opera occupies a core position in both projects, these national projects are expected to accelerate the modernization of Chinese opera.