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Also dubbed Luantan, Qinqiang Opera is a local Chinese opera that mainly thrives in North China'sShaanxi Province, as well as its neighboring northwestern regions, like Gansu andQinghai provinces and the Ningxia Hui andXinjiangUygur autonomous regions.

It is said that the opera was called "EmperorQin Shihuang's Opera" during the Tang period (618-907) and was later renamed Qinqiang Opera, which boasts the most ancient, affluent, and largest musical system of all Chinese operas.

The opera first originated from local folk songs and dance forms in theYellow RiverValley of Shaanxi andGansu provinces -- the birthplaces of Chinese culture. As an opera art form, Qinqiang evolved in ancient China's political, economic, and cultural center - Chang'an (today's Xian) -- with the persistent efforts of the local people over generations.

According to historical records, the opera "first appeared in theQin Dynasty(221-206BC), experienced great refinement in theHan Dynasty(206BC-220AD), flourished in the Tang, was integrated as an opera form in theYuan Dynasty, (1271-1368) matured in theMing Dynasty(1368-1644), and became widespread in theQing Dynasty." Its time-honored history has endowed Qinqiang with a reputation as "the forefather of Chinese operas."

Its repertoires usually feature such themes as anti-aggression wars, the fight between the loyal and the treacherous, and the struggles against oppression, as well as a number of other topics of strong human interest that reflect the honest, diligent, brave, and upright characteristics of the local people. The number of the Qinqiang works at one time topped 10,000, ranking first on the list of more than 300 local operas in China. But only about 4,700 works remain today.

Qinqiang is also one of the earliest operatic musical systems to reflect the emotions of human beings. Equipped with a set of performing skills created by the artists, Qinqiang has greatly influenced other operatic forms. During the Qing Dynasty, Qinqiang Opera enteredBeijingand directly affected the formation of Beijing Opera.