Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
The course content integrates three main components: knowledge of traditional Chinese opera, appreciation of Peking Opera, and demonstration and instruction in Peking Opera performance. This comprehensive approach, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice, offers students a deeper understanding and immersive experience of the beauty of traditional opera. 1. Peking Opera Demonstration and Instruction Professional performers from the Guoguang Opera Company provide hands-on guidance, introducing students to the fundamentals of Peking Opera, including role types and the essential techniques of singing, recitation, movement, and acting. Students also actively participate in rehearsals of the classic Peking Opera Chun Cao Breaks into the Court, culminating in a final performance in June. 2. Traditional Opera Knowledge This component is delivered through lectures by the course instructor or invited scholars and experts, offering foundational insights into the history, theory, and cultural significance of Chinese opera. 3. Peking Opera Appreciation Through the viewing of Peking Opera video recordings and the analysis of scripts, this part of the course explores the playwright's creative intentions, historical and cultural context, character development, and plot structure. Lectures are delivered by the course instructor or guest experts, who also guide students in discussion and critical inquiry.
Results/Contributions

Sponsor: TSMC Education and Culture Foundation

Number of Students Enrolled: 19

(Repost from Guoguang Opera Company’s Facebook, June 29, 2024)

[Campus Edition of Chun Cao Breaks into the Court Concludes with Great Success]

Little Chun Cao takes on the Grand Stage at the Xiqu Center!

Students from National Tsing Hua University and Tunghai University starred in the campus production of Chun Cao Breaks into the Court, and the performance was a resounding success!

Thanks to the trust and cooperation between the TSMC Education and Culture Foundation and the National Center for Traditional Arts, the Guoguang Opera Company mobilized an outstanding team of instructors and carried out three years of training. Today, they finally led the students to “break into” the National Xiqu Center!

Nearly 50 students stepped onto the grand stage, delivering high-level performances under the careful guidance of their teachers. They excelled in singing, recitation, movement, and acting. The Guoguang instructors watched from the wings with tearful eyes, visibly moved as they witnessed their students shine.

During yesterday's costume rehearsal, a student from Tunghai—one of the young Chun Caos—fell and was in so much pain she couldn’t get up. Teacher Anli and the students were brought to tears, torn between worry for her health and the desire to present their best on stage. Thankfully, after a hospital visit accompanied by the teachers, she was able to perform as planned today—and did so flawlessly! This incident gave students a profound understanding of the demanding path of a traditional opera performer.

Congratulations to the students of both universities for creating an unforgettable memory. May you always remember how brightly you shone on stage, and never forget the strength that traditional opera has given you.

The inheritance of traditional opera is never achieved overnight.

We deeply thank Chairman Fan-Cheng Tseng and Executive Director Chun-Lang Hsu of the TSMC Education and Culture Foundation for their long-term support, which has allowed the art of Peking Opera to take root and blossom in schools, giving rise to a flourishing garden of Chun Caos.

And thank you to the distinguished guests and faculty from both universities who joined us today to witness the radiant performance of our students!

Keywords
jingju,xiqu,aesthetics,performing arts,Guo Guang Opera Company, Chun-Cao's Intrusion at the Court
References
1. https://esg.tsmc.com/zh-Hant/articles/326

TSMC Education and Culture Foundation Website Introduction

Contact Information
羅仕龍
losl@mx.nthu.edu.tw