Dian Opera is a pearl of Yunnan culture and art. In which period did it originate?

Dian Opera was formed during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. By the Guangxu period, Yunnan opera performances had become very popular in Yuxi and other areas. Yunnan Opera is popular in Yunnan Province and parts of Guizhou and Sichuan. Yunnan Opera singing activities are also held in some areas of Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries. Yunnan opera has a unique voice and strong expressiveness.

The three major tunes, silk string tune, Huqin tune, and Xiangyang tune, are respectively derived from ancient tunes such as Qin tune, Hui tune, and Han tune, and are also nourished by Yunnan ethnic folk music. Yunnan opera has rich and varied forms, natural and smooth tunes, and can perform plays of various themes, styles, structures and moods.

Characteristics of singing tunes

The singing tunes of Yunnan opera are mainly divided into three major systems: silk string, Xiangyang and Huqin. Each singing style generally has specific tunes such as reverse plate, machine head, first line, second flow, third plate, rolling plate and so on. In addition, there are some Kunqiang tunes and blowing cards.

The silk string tune is high-pitched, exciting, yet soft and melodious, and comes from the Han opera tune, and belongs to the Xipi singing tune system; the Huqin tune is stretched and beautiful, and comes from the Hui opera tune, and belongs to the Erhuang singing tune system; the Xiangyang tune is bright and cheerful, and is also similar to Peking Opera , Xipi singing in Han operas is obviously influenced by Qin Opera Bangzi.

The vocal cavity system of Yunnan Opera can be said to come from multiple cavity systems. Among them, Sichuan Opera has a very important influence on Yunnan Opera. Yunnan is adjacent to Sichuan, and immigrants from Sichuan have entered in scattered ways throughout the ages.

Over time, Sichuan immigrants have become an important part of Yunnan’s population, and many actors from Sichuan opera troupes have entered Yunnan. Because the dialects are similar, most of them stayed in Yunnan to perform in Yunnan opera. As a result, many Sichuan opera voices, performance methods and repertoire have invisibly penetrated into Yunnan opera.