The Survival Condition Of Shangdang Bangzi Opera In Changzhi City Of Shanxi Province

Shangdang-bangzi opera is one of “four bangzi operas” in ShanxiProvince. Because of its spread in the ancient Shangdang County, thesoutheast of Shanxi Province, it is named after this. Shangdang-bangzi operais one of ancient dramas popular in Shangdang area. There are more than400years of verified history about the opera. It takes root and grows strongin the locality, and is deeply loved by the local people. On May20,2006, theState Council listed Shangdang-bangzi opera as intangible cultural heritageunder the national protection. It is a must to protect and inherit the ancientoperas. However, as national intangible cultural heritage and intellectualfood of local people, the current situation of ancient Shangdang-bangziopera is very worrying. With national prosperousness and economicdevelopment, as well as constant impact from rapid social changes and timesculture, the ancient opera of over-one-hundred-year of history nowencounters an unprecedented test. In recent years, with the reform of thenational economic system and the intrusion of western culture,Shangdang-bangzi opera troupe is stuck into difficulty in face of freecompetition of the market. The troupe feels difficult in survival, theirperformance level gradually declining and recruitment of actors becomingdifficult. There are many troupes unable to support themselves, whichresults in their dissolution. Besides, the impact of modern culture hasresulted in a great loss of the audience. With older target audiences and lackof subsequent talents, the troupe feels gloomy in their future. Thedevelopment and inheritance of Shangdang-bangzi opera has become aproblem needed to be solved urgently. The survival and development ofShangdang-bangzi opera troupe is seriously related with the existence anddevelopment of the ancient opera-Shangdang-bangzi. The investigation and comprehension of Shangdang-bangzi opera troupe is the spread andprotection of the ancient opera-Shangdang-bangzi. The paper intends toemploy the research methods of ethnomusicology and field investigation tohave macroscopic and microeconomic analysis of Shangdang-bangzi operatroupe, and to illustrate the status quo of Shangdang-bangzi and conductrelated analysis and study from the angle of ethnomusicology. No works andarticles have mentioned this issue. The investigation and research in thepaper has a certain significance of filling in the blanks, and of collectingmaterials of later protection and inheritance of Shangdang-bangzi opera. Thepaper is divided into four chapters. The first chapter introduces the history,formation, and development of Shangdang Bangzi opera according to thetime period, as well as its artistic features; the second chapter makes ananalysis of the Shangdang Bangzi opera troupe in Changzhi city, and also acomparison of the introduction from historical and present, official and civil,and then puts forward the present problems of the troupe; the third chaptermakes an analysis of the music ontology of the play Tears of Blood fromSong Palace performed by the Shangdang Bangzi opera troupe in the urbanarea of Changzhi city; the fourth chapter puts forward views and suggestionsin terms of the present problems of the Shangdang Bangzi opera.