Kunqu Opera, one of the oldest traditional Chinese art forms, with a history dating back about 600 years, has been recognized by the 2022 Global Art Promotion Award.
Established by the Asian Art Fund Scotland and endorsed by the City of Edinburgh Council and Asian Arts Award, the Global Art Promotion Award is set to celebrate the best new efforts to highlight classic theater arts from different cultures and countries.
The Northern Kunqu Opera Theater is a winner of the 2022 Global Art Promotion Award. Zhang Jianan (left, front), on behalf of the theater’s head, Yang Fengyi, receives the award in Edinburgh.[Photo provided to China Daily]
Originated in Kunshan, Suzhou during the Jiajing Period (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty, Kunqu Opera is hailed as one of the three origins of world drama and listed in the first batch of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Elegant in lyrics and tunes, sweet in voice, exquisite in performances, the Kunqu Opera is the ancestor of Chinese operas, having a significant effect on the dramas and operas of latter times. The Peony Pavilion, Palace of Eternal Youth, and Jade Hairpin are among the most famous traditional Kunqu operas.
As a traditional Chinese art form, Kunqu Opera has come under the spotlight and gained in popularity around the world.
China Kunqu Opera Museum
China Kunqu Opera Museum, located in Pingjiang Historic Block in the ancient city of Suzhou, is home to a collection of cultural relics, ancient books and rare historic documents of Kunqu Opera and other operas. It is the only professional art museum nationwide that boasts the integration of history, culture and art of Kunqu Opera with display, exhibition, preservation, utilization and research as its missions. It has created a harmonious humanistic environment for Kunqu Opera originating from the ancient city of Suzhou.