Research on the Secondary Creation and Artistic Innovation of the Guangdong Han Opera “Wang Zhaojun”

Abstract

Guangdong Han Opera, known as the “Peony of the South,” is a treasured art form with a history of over 300 years. As one of the three major opera genres in Guangdong, it primarily uses Pi and Huang tuning, incorporating Kunqu, Gaoqiang, Chuiqiang, and minor tunes, with Zhongzhou rhyme as its stage language. The roles are divided into seven categories: Sheng, Dan, Chou, Gong, Po, and Jing (including Hongjing and Wujing). Its accompaniment instruments, particularly the Touxian, Dasuluo, and Haotou, are distinctive, making it an excellent Pi and Huang opera genre in southern China. In 2008, Guangdong Han Opera was listed in the national intangible cultural heritage, recognizing its artistic value and entrusting it with the mission of inheriting and developing this opera genre. This paper focuses on the Guangdong Han Opera “Wang Zhaojun” and employs methods such as literature review and case analysis to explore its achievements in secondary creation and artistic innovation. The opera has achieved innovations in script, character, music, and stagecraft, and made breakthroughs in performance form, narrative technique, and cultural connotation, promoting the inheritance and development of Guangdong Han Opera and providing insights into contemporary drama innovation.