A Study On The Transformation Of Henan Opera In Kaifeng Area During The Republic Of China

As an era of mainland Chinese history that was preceded by the last imperial dynasty and followed by the new China, the Republic of China witnessed the transition of traditional opera from its modern style to its contemporary form. During this ear, Henan Opera didn’t stagnate nor wither due to perennial wars, chaos and natural disasters; instead it became an important means to entertain, educate and enlighten the people and also to promote new thoughts. It’s especially so in Kaifeng, Henan’s Capital city. In the meantime, Henan opera also transformed itself. Based on the history of Henan opera, this paper analyzed how it completed its transformation. The paper started by introducing the Literature to explain and clarify its background to great lengths, then dissected the upgrade of Chinese opera at the beginning of20th Century and how it affected Henan opera, especially in Kaifeng area, and concluded the intrinsic link between Henan opera and Chinese opera in general. Next, Chapter III moved on to.summarize the unique features of Henan Opera in its transition. The last Chapter expressed the implications of Henan Opera’s transformation and the author’s personal observations, and wrapped the paper up.