Chapter 51 Pearl Curtain Show / The Drama Queen of the Yuan Dynasty

Zhulianxiu, a drama actress in Yuan Dynasty. In ancient times, the social status of actors was very low, especially actresses, many of them were even brothel kabuki, so there are very few information about them.There are two books in the Yuan Dynasty, which have preserved some useful materials for us.One is Zhong Sicheng's "Record of Ghost Book", which records dramatists; the other is Yuan Xia Tingzhi's "Brothel Collection", which records all brothel girls with acting talents. According to "The Brothel Collection", Zhulianxiu's surname is Zhu, ranking fourth. I don't know what her real name is, but Zhulianxiu is her stage name.The year of birth and death is unknown.She was very active on the stage of zaju in Dadu (now Beijing) of Yuan Dynasty. She was "beautiful in appearance" and was unique in zaju. "Zhu Niangniang" once performed in Yangzhou, and later married a Taoist priest in Hangzhou, and her later life was unfortunate.

Zhulianxiu had a good friendship with Yuan opera writers, and often exchanged lyrics and music with Guan Hanqing, Lu Zhi, Feng Zizhen, Wang Jianqiu and others.Guan Hanqing once described her like this: "Wealth is like the purple tent of the Hou family, and the romance is like the red lotus of the Xie mansion." Lu Zhi, a sanqu writer who was appointed by an official to a Hanlin scholar, also said: "Whoever sends Qingqing in a boat, loves the demeanor of the forest, and the singing outside the clouds. Baoji piles up clouds, and ice strings disperse the rain. It is always talented. It is just like a green tree. The night sky in Nanxun almost kills the warbler in shame. The postal kiosk where guests are scattered, the Chu melody is about to be completed, and I wake up from a drunken dream." ([Double Tune · Toad Palace Song] "Drunk Gift to the Yuefu Pearl Curtain Show").

Zhulianxiu not only sings well, but also has a good literary talent.She has a small order and a set of sets that have been handed down. Let's try [Sai Guanyin] in her "Dtimento": "The flowers smile, and the willows are ashamed. Where is the sorrow of parting on the dance floor? Who can repair it if you want to pass it on?" Tick ​​off all the lovesickness, and see the desolate grass add thousands of sorrows. Hugh, Hugh, heartbroken Xiangjiang wants to end." Don't let those male Sanquists. Wei Liangfu/"Father of Kunqu Opera" known as "Sage of Qu"

The Ming and Qing dynasties were the golden period for the development of Chinese opera. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, four vocal tunes of the Nanqu system were formed——Haiyan tune, Yuyao tune, Kunshan tune, and Yiyang tune.Kunqiang came out relatively late, and did not exceed the other three vocal tunes at first, but later it became the most popular tune, overwhelming the other three. It has a lot to do with it. Wei Liangfu (1489-1566), courtesy name Shizhao, was named Jizhai. In his later years, he was named Shangquan, Shangquan, and Yufeng.Born in Xinjian (now in Nanchang, Jiangxi).In the fifth year of Jiajing (1526), ​​he was a Jinshi, the head of the Liguan Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households, the member of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs Wailang, and the deputy envoy of the Guangxi Inspection Department.In the 31st year of Jiajing (1552), he was promoted to the Zuobu political envoy of Shandong Province, and after he became an official, he lived in Taicang, Jiangsu Province.

He is an opera lover and has a special liking for rhythm.It is said that he learned Beiqu at first, but he was not as good as Wang Youshan, so he changed to Nanqu.In fact, his love of Nanqu, especially Kunqiang, has a lot to do with his long-term residence in Taicang, Jiangsu.Among the four vocal tunes in the early Ming Dynasty, the spread of Kunqiang was very narrow at first, almost limited to Wu.Taicang, where Wei Liangfu lives, is very active in opera activities. Among the local garrison, there are many people who are proficient in rhythm. Wei Liangfu often competes with them and learns from some masters. Among them is the famous composer Guoyun who has a great influence on him Shi and Zhang Yetang, who later became his son-in-law.With the assistance of Guo Yunshi, Zhang Yetang, etc., he absorbed some characteristics of the popular Haiyan tune, Yuyao tune and Jiangnan folk song ditty at that time, processed and sorted out the singing tunes of operas spread in Kunshan, and integrated the northern and southern tunes into one. It can not only make the southern songs "received pure and fine", but also make the northern songs "turn without northern air". A new chamber known as the "Water Mill Chamber".

At the same time, Wei Liangfu also reformed the accompaniment instruments.He changed the main instruments of Xiao and Guan into flute, pipe, sheng, Qin, pipa, string and other instruments in one hall, which made the singing of Kunqiang more beautiful.Since then, Wei Liangfu has become famous and has been hailed as "National Worker" and "Sage of Qu", and is known as the "Originator" of Kunqiang (Nanqu). Wei Liangfu also wrote the book "Qulu" (also known as "Nanci Yinzheng"), which is an important work on Kunqiang singing and the Northern and Southern Song schools.