Xiamen Traditional Operas:
Gezai Opera in Xiamen
Being a traditional opera, it prevails in Minnan, Taiwan and
regions in Southeast Asia where overseas Chinese live in compact
communities. Its melody comes from folk and the libretto is easy to
understand, hence it is warmly welcomed.
Nanqu
It is a kind of ancient music, which has close relations with the
music of the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties. For instance, one of the
major musical instruments of Nanga, Pi-Pa, is played by holding it on
player's lap scantly. This posture can only be found in ancient
paintings and excavated tomb figures, The art style of the Nangu is of
primitive simplicity and elegant and mild and touching. It prevails
widely in Xiamen, Quanzhou, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Southeast
Asia since long.
Jinge
It is a kind of folk ballad, which formed on the basis of Minnan
folk songs and rhymes of the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The singing
style of the Jinge can be divided in the main into two schools, Tang
and Ting. The Tang school prevails mainly in rural areas whose vocal
music has the specialty of primitive simplicity, straightforwardness
and dynamics and the melody is close to folk rhymes. The Ting school
prevails in cities whose vocal music is comparatively elegant, mild
and strict in words, voice and rhythm.
Folk Custom in Xiamen
Enjoy the Sight of Lantern on the Lantern
Festival
On the 15th of the lst lunar month, they're in the Lantern
Festival. In the streets, big and small, and in every family,
beautiful festival lanterns are decorated. The public places like
Zhongshan park and temples etc, hold celebrating activities of
performing dragon dance, lion dance, walking on stilts, running
artificial boats, letting off fireworks, welcoming Goddess Zigu and
eating sweet dumplings. During the night, the transparent palace
lanterns merry-go-round lanterns (a lantern on the top band of which
are decorative figures revolving as the hot air ascends), Baolian
lanterns, lotus shape lanterns and elephant shape lanterns shed
dazzling brightness in all directions On the surface of the lake,
lantern boats row, splendidly attired girls and children perform
joyful festive lantern dance. On the streets, the stilt tram strides
magnificently making a grand spectacle.
To gain Number One Scholar Tittle in Mid-Autumn
Festival
In Xiamen there is a folk custom of gaining the tittle of Number
One Scholar by playing Huibing cake in the Mid-Autumn festival, which
has a history of more than three hundred years. In the festival day,
every family lights red candles and lays the huibing cakes with every
member, old and young, relatives and close friends being divided into
every 5 to 6 people for one group to whole-heartedly play the dice to
see who is blessed by the Goddess of Moon. It is joyful and
interesting, roaring with endless laughter. With Number One Scholars
coming out one after another, sound of crackers and fireworks bursting
from time to time, a scene of great joy and happiness emerges.
