Study On The System Of Shengpingshu And The Inner Court Opera Performer Subject To Its Administration In Late Qing Dynasty

In the late Qing dynasty, although China were encountering "Once-in-a-life Tremendous Change" both socially and economically, opera activities were extremely prosperous both at the imperial court and among the people. With Beijing as the center, the Beijing Opera has been developed to reach its maturity and a peak period with thousands of talented performers coming forth.The establishment of Shengpingshu, namely the Department in Charge of Organizing Operas for the Imperial Court in late Qing dynasty as well as the relevant system of "Inner Court Opera Perfomers" have played an important role in promoting the prosperity of operas and the rapid development of Beijing Opera.The paper sorts out and investigates into the origins, organizations, responsibilities, social status, economic gains and artistic values as well as contributions of Shengpingshu and the relevant system of "Inner Court Opera Perfomers". As the classic Marxist writers have pointed out that in any class society it is always the ideas of the ruling class that dominate. Therefore, the arts that are enjoyed by the ruling class will certainly have a great influence on the whole society. The institution of Shengpingshu as well as the system of " Inner Court Opera Performers" have made multiple operas that are outside the imperial court or among the grassroots accessible to the palace with high prestige. Meanwhile, it also bridges the folk operas and the palace opera, greatly promoting the exchanges and interactions between them. By revealing the art in Shengpingshu and the careers of imperial opera performers, the paper aims to, based on comparing the institution with similar precedent counterparts in history, reflect the situations and features of folk and palace operas and to offer a valuable perspective to better understand the impact upon the development of operas exerted by the particular institution and the particular system. What's more, the paper may also help you further comprehend how the Beijing Opera grew to its full maturity and the peak of art emerged at that time.