花灯表演之一A scene of a Lushan Lantern Opera performance

I was in Lushan not long before the mountainous county in western Sichuan Province was devastated by the killer quake on April 20, 2013. With a history dating back 2,300 years, Lushan boasts profound culture and folk art charm that is represented by Lushan Lantern, one of the fi rst state-approved intangible cultural heritages of Sichuan province.

Lushan Lantern is also a synonym of a local folk opera form often referred to as ‘waddling lanterns'. Legend has it that it originated in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) reached its heyday in the Song (960-1279). The stage presentation features a clown and a lead heroine, with the makeup, steps, posture expression, monologues and dialogues believed to have the power to exorcise evil spirits. Lushan Lantern Opera is therefore regarded as the living fossil of the ‘nuo’ operatic culture of China. The performers are the locals who know how to amuse the audience with daring, witty use of the dialect and two-part allegorical sayings. A makeshift stage could be set up anywhere - in the village square, the courtyard of someone's house, or in the fi elds. Various instruments can be used to create the accompanying music, but ‘erhu' is indispensable.

The most intriguing part of the performance usually comes from the clown, whose fur jacket donned inside out refl ects the long-time tradition of the Qiang ethnic people while the half-naked shoulders reveal some Tibetan sentiments. Interestingly, the lyrics and spoken parts of the performance are in unadulterated Chinese dialects. With such ethnic diversity, the opera form justifi es as a convincing evidence of ethnic fusion. Some scholars' deduction is that Lushan was under the rule of the Qiang people about 2,000 years ago and Lushan Lantern Opera was a ‘cultural fruit' of an ‘ethnic corridor' crafted by the Qin and Han people to link the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and the infi nite wildness of Tibet.

Lushan Lantern Opera is also believed by some experts to be a special form of ‘nuo’ that features the combination of performing art and religious rites. Such analysis is based on the long-time storytelling entertainment tradition known as Lushan Qingtan and observed by the locals to entertain human beings as well as the spirits in ancient times. The lantern opera performance gradually separated itself from the religious focus of Qingtan to become ‘Colorful August Pavilion', a folk carnival to celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival of China.

花灯表演之二A scene of a Lushan Lantern Opera performance

花灯艺人的绝活Throwing a paper fan into the air with a flourish and getting it again is one of the stunts a Lushan Lantern Opera artist must master.

All the members of the Lushan Qingyi Folk Music Troupe, led by the 67-year-old Pei Tiwen, are hard-core fans of Lushan Lantern Opera. Their nightly rehearsals can be seen on North Street of the town. Pei Tiwen learned the tricks from Zhang Fengren, a veteran Lushan Lantern performing artist renowned for his superb interpretation of both the clown and the female role. His fi rst encounter with the hilarious lyrics 60 years ago remains fresh in his memory. A picture of his late mentor can still be seen at Pei's home.

Pei's team is made of homemakers, farmers, students, retired teachers and government employees. The troupe also performs a lot for the rural people.

Lushan is home to a galaxy of Lushan Lantern Opera masters such as Wang Sanqiao, Cheng Xiankai, Tang Yusheng, Huang Buyun and Ren Mingli.

Lushan people love the lantern opera for its unique hilarious and festival features. With the support and guidance from folk culture experts, Lushan Lantern Opera has broken its confi nes of the basic two characters to encourage interaction with the audience.

The ‘lanterns' have survived the relentless lapse of time over the past millennium. Amidst the aftermath of the earthquake, Lushan Lantern is left intact, heralding timely rains for crops and hopes for all Lushan people.

文章来源：《地震地质》 网址: http://www.dzdzzz.cn/qikandaodu/2021/0804/452.html