For the non-Chinese readers, here is a translation of that article (from Bing Translator).Originally Posted by Hendrik
Cantonese Opera (song) the origin of the
--Red boat and eight for the children and Hall
Chen Xianqing
Cantonese Opera, also known as Guangdong drama or Cantonese drama, part of the PI system, affected by Kun, Gore, Han, Hui, Qin, Xiang and other types of moisture and impact, borrowed its singing has absorbed, Director of local music and folk song and sung in Cantonese dialect, and traditional Chinese culture can be traced, and special typical local characteristics. Cantonese Opera, Cantata is in the form of Cantonese Opera.
Guangdong is located in the South, historically, especially in feudal times, Guangdong economic and cultural backwardness in central China, it was no surprise. The song and Yuan dynasties, Opera has developed in the North and at the prevalence of Guangdong is still the land of the huangman, I am afraid, is "all the year round not heard sound of music". Song Mo and the late Ming, foreign invasion, Zhongyuan people lots to Lingnan asylum migration, Guangdong was many people, and culture in the North were followed there.
During the five years of the Qing dynasty, a famous actor in Beijing Friday, five person threw up his hands, Chase fleeing Qing, fled to Guangdong cosmetic clothing, staying in town based in Foshan. To earn a living, Zhang Wu taught in Peking Opera Opera apprenticeship. Prentice make up the team, to the suburbs show, for rice to eat. Because you want to go out performances, they are alien on board. And the ship is the main means of transport. Learned that the troupe comes to villagers in the distance, they will ship painted red, and white doctors, green indicates that the Mailman is similar today. So, the subsequent theatrical troupe to follow its practice, in which ships are red boat. Thus, "red boat" became the alias of the troupe; "children of red boat" would become the alternative name of Cantonese Opera artists.
Today, the Cantonese opera troupe out performances have not sat red boat, however, the "red boat" of this very special, very beautiful name is preserved. Today, the canton has a dedicated presentation and promotion of Cantonese Opera website, does it fire, is called the "Cantonese Opera oar red boat network", friends (song) all over the province and even overseas. Network instead of a vessel, say that it is a great improvement in the era of Ah!
Zhang Wu to Foshan, in addition to the refuge shoutu, he also established "the flowers Hall". Play line and flowers Hall is the oldest Opera territories in organizations, Foshan is known as the home of Cantonese Opera. Flowers Hall in Foshan red power street edge of the fen River, near the center of water involving head set with a stone tablet, engraved with "flowers of water involved" four characters. Art is resourceful in this water fell on the play in question box, take the red boat to performances throughout. However, I also see another section of the introduction, says, "and flowers Hall was built in the Ming dynasty Wanli. Is the first Cantonese Opera industry organization for local troupe resourceful rehearsals, art teachers, compitetion of art, is when the troupe management institutions. Dedicated to play line of Patriarchs ' huaguang ', so it is also known as Joan flower Palace ". Ming Wanli emperor Yongzheng of the Qing dynasty and early hundred years, I do not know which prevail.
Flowers Hall established, other halls are established, however, the scale is less than flowers Hall. Foshan Chung-yi, according to the log records: "in the town hall where the 37, magnificent flowers Hall building, Hall of contraction. "Flowers Hall area ratio Foshan ancestral temple was large, and four large columns at the entrance, there is also a pavilion. Foshan an idolatrous procession, for the time being, necessary for every God Festival staged Opera, has a song in zhuzhi poems describes this event in the Qing dynasty: "Pear Garden dance game, amidst the bustling, red sand ship late, but Tian Kuang Festival year after year, thousands of people around to watch flowers". "Thousands of people around to watch flowers", beyond rhyme needs should also emphasize "flowers Hall" at the time.
In addition to the large, then Joan Flower Club "power" is also very strong, it was a draw and the authorities of Guangdong, Guangxi, Cantonese Opera industry, do Wen Guangxin now part of the functions of the Council. Such as a copyright problem, which the troupe lined up for the new play to Club play once, after getting approval to perform, not stealing peer performance exhaust free content; there are venue dispute problem, if two troupe to a site at performances, it is necessary to rely on Association to coordinate.
Cantonese people often said "eight and Club", then what is the "eight"? The original, you can find source and flowers Hall. As the Opera Guild, flowers Hall has a strict management system, Hall, Interior guard and, Siu, Hing and, fuhe, Xinhe, Yungho, Duc Hoa, puhe etc eight Church, respectively, administer in a unified way belongs to the Congregation. The "eight and fame" should be regarded as different eight theatrical troupe, should also form a variety of styles and genres.
Today, flowers Hall is still in Foshan? It is a pity, of Foshan in late Qing and flowers Hall banned because of Cantonese Opera artists of the uprising, and resourceful people are not permitted to play Opera, flowers Hall is no longer running, and later a character in drama of Cantonese Opera kuangxinhua and others to comply with her wishes, yellow sand built in Guangzhou "eight and Hall". Also requires establishment of a new club must than all firms Trade Union Hall to the magnificent Guangzhou, to let the world recognition of Cantonese Opera, Cantonese Opera proud! Since then, Foshan and flowers Hall gradually declining and dilapidated, has ceased to exist. Until now, at the Museum of Foshan of Guangdong Opera, was a problem "and flowers Hall" four characters of the new Memorial, in remembrance of Joan Flower Club that year's brilliant.
Guangzhou's "eight and Club" has not completed? Really kuangxinhua advocate, Bank-funded effort, built in the Qing dynasty to the 15 year 1889, the site of yellow sand in Guangzhou. "Eight and" II word of meaning, apart from above of explained, due to new of construction, and more has a explained: "eight" word meaning means on line of people, "people" Word above separated is "eight" Word, "and" who harmony, working together with, created Opera new world, two species meaning, are stressed a "and" Word, and for your, and and for Shang, for play line past scholars ' enjoyment of essence is located.
How well new Hall built? According to historical records, the building was very grand indeed but also derived from a legendary story.
For lining up the Hall, the door must be high enough and broad enough, but to do so, we must first find such large wood, but this one piece of wood it is hard to find, otherwise you can only spell pieces of wood, but they did not want to use to spell out the door, for which is vexing, head, no response. A night, China Light master to head reported dream, said a Department has giant wood may for door, so second days morning head on to first division pointing of local a see, missing what trees, only see a large time, this thought dreams for virtual, later he and wanted to, will to Tibetan in time under, so life people pumping dry time, really in dries up of Riverbed lying with a large cedar, on trees in the of Wei husband has "thousand years pine, and Wan Nianbai" of said, this huge a cedar, is rare. Yellow sand "eight and Club" the door is made of cedar, it is higher than the gate of Guangzhou Chen ancestral temple also, thick, heavy, and later Japan's invasion of China, Guangzhou aircraft bombing, Sands was razed, "eight and Club" will not be spared, but the fact that two Cedar door, remain firm, non-destructive nickels. In 1946, the Cantonese Opera community in Henning road reconstruction of the "eight and Hall". Because Henning road "eight and Club" was expedient Club, place is small, doesn't fit these two doors, and the two doors to the street after Henning road reconstruction "Luang Hall". During the cultural revolution, the two door was regarded as the "Four Olds", abandoned the dark corner, again as a bypass for trucks up and down, and be extremely heavy weight. After the cultural revolution, Gates began have returned. Pitch dark door has undergone many vicissitudes, has remained strong as ever, actor or actress to this visit, there will always be a dash lamented.
Now rebuilt eight and Guild, vermilion gates restart, for many years opening, interested people can tour inside, but also a number of Opera enthusiasts were there to participate in "private group", to show their singing.
Hendrik, I know the readability of this translation is poor. Can you point out exactly where Tan Sau Ng appears in it? Thanks.
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