Kun Opera

Cultural inheritance

Kun Opera has a history of 600 years, but its future development has been in question for some time. Following the UNESCO's decision to honor its contribution to the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001, the problem has become more acute than ever before.

For the last 200 years, Kun Opera has struggled to find a direction for its future development. Today, though, it seems to have finally overcome these problems, largely thanks to its intrinsic artistic charm and people's consciousness to value the tradition.

If a great artist has no disciple, no matter how amazing his work is, it will vanish upon his death. Maybe the most abiding contribution of the founders of Kun opera is passing their skills on to the next generation. Without this time-honored tradition, there would not be six major remaining Kun Opera troupes we have today. This would mean that contemporary theatergoers would have no opportunity to experience The Peony Pavilion or The Palace of Long Life.