The "New Aesthetics of Peking Opera" series course embodies the spirit of general education, using engaging and entertaining plays to give students a glimpse into the profundities of traditional Chinese theater. The play known as "the world's greatest comedy," "Spring Grass Crashes the Court," is not only educational but also approachable and stimulating, fostering a keen interest in learning among students and achieving effective educational outcomes. Built on the foundation of teamwork, the course also highlights individual achievements and value, with each participating student highly commendable.
The class presentations were collectively completed by the students enrolled, most of whom had no prior experience in appreciating or practicing traditional Chinese opera. In just over three months, the students started with the basics of Peking Opera, such as articulation, vocal modulation, hand gestures, and footwork, and under the guidance of professional actors from the Guoguang Opera Company, they diligently honed their skills, showing significant improvement and excellent performance. This not only summarizes the students' learning outcomes for the entire academic year but also emphasizes the goal of traditional arts education within the campus.
Under the tutelage of professional actors from the Guoguang Opera Company, the students earnestly learned the singing, recitation, and physical movements for scenes such as "Journey" from "Spring Grass Crashes the Court," as well as "Cross Examination" and "Letter Correction" from other plays. Starting from zero and progressing to formal stage performances, the students actively learned and excelled, proving that practice is the key to success. This course is exclusively sponsored by the TSMC Education and Culture Foundation as part of the "Traditional Opera Heritage Project." The Guoguang Opera Company arranged the plays and instructors with the aim that by the end of the three-year project, there would be joint performances between Tsing Hua and Tunghai universities, and to spark young students' interest in traditional Chinese opera. In 2023, the students spontaneously established the "Tsing Hua University Peking Opera Club," a testament to the effectiveness of NTHU's general education.