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Xinchang Diaoqiang

ezhejiang.gov.cn| Updated: October 1, 2020 L M S

Xinchang Diaoqiang is a popular ancient opera tune. It is also called Diaoqiang, Shaoxing Gaodiao or Xinchang Gaoqiang. With Xinchang county in Shaoxing as its original source, the tune is widely spread through east Zhejiang province.

It is considered to be the only vestige of Yuyaoqiang, one of the "four major tunes" in Nanxi Opera of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Xinchang Diaoqiang is rich in content, with dramas originating from Mulian Opera, Nanxi Opera and other ancient operas, but also has dramas recomposed from historic and modern stories.

Opera experts unanimously affirm that Xinchang Diaoqiang is the "living fossil of Chinese opera".

Xinchang is located in the mountainous areas of eastern Zhejiang. Its environment is relatively closed, so Xinchang Diaoqiang has been well preserved. Its music is of great significance to the study of ancient opera and music, and it has deeply influenced other opera forms. Ninghai Pingdiao, for example, developed out of it.

In 2006, Xinchang Diaoqiang was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.