Introduction to Kunqu Opera (崑曲介紹)


Kunqu Opera

Traditional Character Text 繁體字版


崑曲,也叫崑劇或者崑山腔,其起源於元末明初(西元1350年前後)的蘇州府崑山縣(今江蘇省蘇州、崑山一帶),流傳於蘇州、上海、無錫一帶的曲唱藝術體系,是融合了唱念做表、舞蹈及武術的表演藝術。

崑曲唱腔華麗婉轉、念白儒雅、表演細膩、舞蹈飄逸,其舞台形式以“褶子戲”為特色,講究口傳心授。崑曲主要採用笛、笙、蕭、嗩吶、三弦、琵琶等樂器演奏。崑曲的劇本創作也極富文學價值,著名的崑劇曲目有:湯顯祖的《牡丹亭》、洪昇的《長生殿》、孔尚任的《桃花扇》、朱素臣的《十五貫》等等。

歷史上,崑劇與古希臘戲劇和印度梵劇並稱為世界三大古老戲劇,但是後兩種戲劇的劇場表演形式都已經絕跡了,只有崑劇還完整保留至今。這充分地顯示了崑曲頑強而旺盛的生命力,也是中華傳統文化藝術寶庫中的瑰寶。另外,崑曲作為中國民族戲曲的代表,其他劇種都不同程度地得到過崑曲的滋養。因此,人們譽崑曲為“百戲之祖”。 2001年5月18日,崑曲名列於聯合國教科文組織的“人類口述和非物質文化遺產代表作”的名錄之中。目前,國內有名的崑劇團體有江蘇省蘇州崑劇院、江蘇崑劇院、上海崑劇團、浙江京崑藝術劇院、北方崑曲劇院和湖南省崑劇團等。

Simplified Character Text 简体字版


昆曲,也叫昆剧或者昆山腔,其起源于元末明初(西元1350年前后)的苏州府昆山县(今江苏省苏州、昆山一带),流传于苏州、上海、无锡一带的曲唱艺术体系,是融合了唱念做表、舞蹈及武术的表演艺术。

昆曲唱腔华丽婉转、念白儒雅、表演细腻、舞蹈飘逸,其舞台形式以“褶子戏”为特色,讲究口传心授。昆曲主要采用笛、笙、萧、唢呐、三弦、琵琶等乐器演奏。昆曲的剧本创作也极富文学价值,著名的昆剧曲目有:汤显祖的《牡丹亭》、洪升的《长生殿》、孔尚任的《桃花扇》、朱素臣的《十五贯》等等。

历史上,昆剧与古希腊戏剧和印度梵剧并称为世界三大古老戏剧,但是后两种戏剧的剧场表演形式都已经绝迹了,只有昆剧还完整保留至今。这充分地显示了昆曲顽强而旺盛的生命力,也是中华传统文化艺术宝库中的瑰宝。另外,昆曲作为中国民族戏曲的代表,其他剧种都不同程度地得到过昆曲的滋养。因此,人们誉昆曲为“百戏之祖”。2001年5月18日,昆曲名列于联合国教科文组织的“人类口述和非物质文化遗产代表作”的名录之中。目前,国内有名的昆剧团体有江苏省苏州昆剧院、江苏昆剧院、上海昆剧团、浙江京昆艺术剧院、北方昆曲剧院和湖南省昆剧团等。

Pinyin Text 拼音


Kūnqǔ, yě jiào kūnjù huòzhě kūnshān qiāng, qí qǐyuán yú yuán mò míng chū (xīyuán 1350 nián qiánhòu) de Sūzhōu fǔ kūnshān xiàn (jīn Jiāngsū shěng Sūzhōu, kūnshān yīdài), liúchuán yú Sūzhōu, shānghǎi, wúxī yīdài de qǔ chàng yìshù tǐxì, shì rónghéle chàng niàn zuò biǎo, wǔdǎo jí wǔshù de biǎoyǎn yìshù.

Kūnqǔ chàngqiāng huálì wǎnzhuǎn, niànbái rúyǎ, biǎoyǎn xìnì, wǔdǎo piāoyì, qí wǔtái xíngshì yǐ “zhězi xì” wéi tèsè, jiǎngjiù kǒuchuán xīn shòu. Kūnqǔ zhǔyào cǎiyòng dí, shēng, xiāo, suǒnà, sānxián, pípá děng yuèqì yǎnzòu. Kūnqǔ de jùběn chuàngzuò yě jí fù wénxué jiàzhí, zhùmíng de kūnjù qǔmù yǒu: Tāng Xiǎnzǔ de “mǔdān tíng”, Hóng Shēng de “chángshēng diàn”, Kǒng Shàngrèn de “táohuā shàn”, Zhū Sùchén de “shíwǔ guàn” děng děng.

Lìshǐ shàng, kūnjù yǔ gǔ xīlà xìjù hé yìndù fánjù bìngchēng wéi shìjiè sān dà gǔlǎo xìjù, dànshì hòu liǎng zhǒng xìjù de jùchǎng biǎoyǎn xíngshì dōu yǐjīng juéjìle, zhǐyǒu kūnjù hái wánzhěng bǎoliú zhìjīn. Zhè chōngfèn de xiǎnshìle kūnqǔ wánqiáng ér wàngshèng de shēngmìnglì, yěshì zhōnghuá chuǎntǒng wénhuà yìshù bǎokù zhōng de guībǎo. Lìngwài, kūnqǔ zuòwéi zhōngguó mínzǔ xìqǔ de dàibiǎo, qítā jùzhǒng dōu bùtóng chéngdù de dédàoguò kūnqǔ de zīyǎng. Yīncǐ, rénmen yù kūnqǔ wéi “bai xì zhī zǔ”. 2001 nián 5 yuè 18 rì, kūnqǔ míng liè yú liánhéguó jiàokēwén zǔzhī de “rénlèi kǒushù hé fēi wùzhì wénhuà yíchǎn dàibiǎozuò” de mínglù zhīzhōng. Mùqián, guónèi yǒumíng de kūnjù tuántǐ yǒu Jiāngsū shěng Sūzhōu kūnjùyuàn, Jiāngsū kūnjùyuàn, shānghǎi kūnjùtuán, Zhèjiāng jīngkūn yìshù jùyuàn, běifāng kūnqǔ jùyuàn hé Hunán shěng kūnjùtuán děng.

English Text 英文版


Kunqu, also known as Kun Opera or Kunshan tone, which originated at the end of Yuan Dynasty and at the beginning of Ming Dynasty (around AD 1350) in Suzhou, Kunshan county government (now Jiangsu Province, Suzhou, Kunshan area), spread in Suzhou, Shanghai, Wuxi and sang along song art system, is a kind of performances that blends singing, reciting, dance and martial arts.

Kunqu is gorgeous and tactful in aria, gentle and elegant in speaking parts, exquisite in performances, and ethereal in dancing. Its stage is in the form of "creases play" features, and it strives for oral transmission to inspire true understanding (internalization). Kunqu mainly uses flute, Sheng, Xiao, suona, Banjo, pipa as musical instruments. Kunqu script also has high literary value; the famous Kunqu Opera repertoire: Tang Xianzu "The Peony Pavilion", Hong Sheng's "The Palace of Long Life" Kong Shangren’s "The Peach Blossom Fan", Zhu Suchen's "Fifteen Strings of Coppers" and so on.

Historically, Kunqu, ancient Greek drama and Indian Sanskrit drama were called the world's three major ancient drama, but the latter two forms of theater plays have disappeared; only Kunqu is still intact today. It not only fully shows the opera tenacious vitality, but also means that it is the art of treasures of traditional Chinese cultural treasure. In addition, as the representative of China National Opera, other Chinese operas all get nourishment from it. Therefore, people regard it as "the ancestor of Chinese dramas". On May 18th 2001, it was listed into "of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by the UNESCO. Currently, famous groups of Kunju in domestic are Suzhou Kun Opera Group in Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Theatre, Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, Zhejiang Jingkun Arts Theatre, Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre and Hunan Kunqu Opera Orchestra and so on.

Vocabulary 生詞  


# 繁体 简体 拼音 英文
1 起源(於) 起源(于) qǐyuán (yú ) origin, originate from
2 流傳 流传 liúchuán to spread,circulate
3 融合 融合 rónghé reconcile, blend
4 華麗 华丽 huálì gorgeous
5 婉轉 婉转 wǎnzhuǎn tactful
6 念白 念白 niànbái spoken parts of a Chinese opera
7 唱腔 唱腔 chàngqiāng aria
8 儒雅 儒雅 rúyǎ gentle and elegant
9 細膩 细腻 xìnì exquisite
10 飄逸 飘逸 piāoyì ethereal
11 口傳心授 口传心授 kǒuchuánxīnshòu internalization
12 文學價值 文学价值 wénxuéjiàzhí literary value
13 絕迹 绝迹 juéjì disappear, vanish
14 生命力 生命力 shēngmìnglì vitality
15 瑰寶 瑰宝 guībǎo treasure
16 傳統 传统 chuántǒng tradition
17 滋養 滋养 zīyǎng nourish

Comprehension Exercises 理解練習


Part I: Multiple Choice 選擇題

  1. 崑曲起源於?

    昆曲起源于?

    Kunqu opera was originally developed in which dynasty?

  2. 崑曲的舞台形式以( )為特色?

    昆曲的舞台形式以( )为特色?

    The performing of kunqu is characterized by what?

  3. 崑曲流傳於( )一帶

    昆曲流传于( )一带

    Kunqu is most popular in which area?


Part II: True or False 是非題

  1. 歷史上,崑曲與希臘戲劇和印度梵劇並稱為世界三大古老戲劇。

    历史上,昆曲与希腊戏剧和印度梵剧并称为世界三大古老戏剧。

    In history, kunqu, ancient Greek drama and Indian Sanskrit drama we re called the world’s three major ancient drama.

  2. “生” 崑曲的劇場表演形式已經絕跡了。

    昆曲的剧场表演形式已经绝迹了。

    Kunqu’s theater play has disappeared.

  3. 人們譽崑曲為百戲之祖。

    人们誉昆曲为百戏之祖。

    People regard kunqu as “the ancestor of Chinese drama”.


Part III: Fill in the Blank 填空題

  1. 崑曲______華麗婉轉。

    昆曲______华丽婉转。

    Kunqu is gorgeous and tactful in ______.

  2. 這充分顯示了崑曲頑強而旺盛的________.

    这充分显示了昆曲顽强而旺盛的________.

    This fully shows the opera tenacious________.

  3. 其他劇種都不同程度地得到過崑曲的________.

    其他剧种都不同程度地得到过昆曲的________.

    Other Chinese opera all get____________ from it.


Part IV: Extended Answers 问答题

  1. 爲什麽說崑曲有頑強而旺盛的生命力?

    为什么说昆曲有顽强而旺盛的生命力?

    ~
  2. 崑曲是怎樣演奏的?

    昆曲是怎样演奏的?

    ~
  3. Use the useful expressions(such as: 起源于...,流傳于..., etc) and related adjectives(such as: 華麗,儒雅, 飄逸...) to answer the following questions:

    崑曲起源於什麽時候?主要在什麽地方流傳?崑曲是怎樣的?

    昆曲起源于什么时候?主要在什么地方流传?昆曲是怎样的?

    ~