Chapter 8 Chapter Two: The Formation and Development of Hundred Operas in the Han, Wei and Six Dynasties

In the spring of the third year of Yuanfeng, Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (108 B.C.), "playing a role and playing a play can be seen within three hundred miles" ("Hanshu·Benji of Emperor Wudi").In the summer of the sixth year of Emperor Wu Yuanfeng (105 BC), "the view of the people of the capital arrived at the Shanglin Pingle Pavilion" to entertain the "Siyi" guests who came to the capital, and wrote "Bayu, Dulu, Haizhong, Dangji" , distribution, ichthyosaurus, and horn-to-play drama" ("Han Shu Biography of the Western Regions").

"Bayu", that is, "Bayu Dance", is a dance of Bandunman ethnic minorities in Southwest China. "Dulu" is also called "Dulu Xunlu (tongtong)", "橦" refers to a wooden pole, and "Xunlu" refers to a very tall wooden pole.There are different opinions on the word Dulu, and there is no consensus.Some people think it refers to a mountain, some people think it is the name of the country, some people think it refers to "Ganfudulu" in Myanmar, where it is tropical and there are many bamboo forests, so people like to practice climbing skills; The development of "dwarf Fulu" technology. "Distribution" and "fish and dragon" refer to dances disguised as fish and dragons, birds and beasts, which are also mixed with large-scale illusions. "Jiao Dai" means to perform ancient acrobatics in the pre-Qin period, such as "pairs equal, wrestling, jousting, art, archery, and imperial" (Note by Wen Ying in "Historical Records Dawan Biography").

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, although there were no large-scale Chinese and foreign performances like when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty received guests from the "Siyi", acrobatic performances were still held every year on Zhengdan, and the emperor came to Deyang Hall in person to receive congratulations from all officials.According to "Book of Jin Le Zhi", during the performance, "the relics came from the west, played in front of the hall, turned into a flounder in the water, jumped and coughed in the water, and made a misty (yi meaning) day", and later "turned into a dragon, They are eight or nine feet long, play out of the water, and show off the sunlight." There are also two female acrobats tied to the two pillars with a big red rope, several feet apart. ".In the "Xijing Fu" in the Han Dynasty, Zhang Heng vividly described the acrobatic performances of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The square that looks far away, the wonderful play of Chengjiao, can be roughly divided into five major scenes: (1) Baixi. (2) The General Assembly advocates. (3) The drama of Manyan. (4) Huang Gong of the East China Sea. (5) Tong Chengcai.

Among them, except for some pure singing and dancing in the plays of Xianchang and Manyan of the General Assembly, the rest are almost pure acrobatics.It roughly includes programs such as Wuhuo Carrying Ding, Dulu Xunzhu, Chong Narrow Yan Zhuo, Chest Protruding Xian Xianfeng, Jumping Balls, Jumping Swords, Walking Ropes, Handstands, Funny Shows, Circuses and other programs. From the content point of view, At that time, the acrobatic performances were relatively complete.