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Guangxi Wenchang

Guangxi Wenchang is called Wenchang for short, and is prevalent in mandarin-speaking areas north of Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, especially in Guilin, Liuzhou and so on. Guangxi Wenchang is the representative form of Quyi in this region, having reached here early in the Daoguang reign (1821-1851) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

A scene from Wenchang Welcoming Guests by a City Full of Golden Tassels
Sung in the Guilin dialect and much influenced by local folk songs and local drama, arias predominate in Wenchang with dialogues playing a secondary role. Several people sit and sing the traditional opera parts, such as the young man, young woman and clown. The number of singers is determined by the number of characters or parts to be sung. Each singer also plays an instrument, which may be a dulcimer, Pipa (lute), Erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument), flute, clappers or a gong. The players may be dressed in theatrical costumes, in which case the performance is called Wenchang Guayi, meaning "with costume." After the 1960s, Wenchang became to be staged in theaters. Another form of Wenchang is called Zouchang, which involves singing while walking or dancing.

The vocal music of Guangxi Wenchang is divided into Dadiao and Xiaodiao (canzonet). The narratives of the songs are based on historical romances or tales of the supernatural written during the Ming (1644-1911) and Qing dynasties. The best known are The Story of the Jade Pin, The Story of White Snake and The Western Bower Descriptions of beautiful scenery in Guilin appeared in the form of Guangxi Wenchang in recent years. Examples are Strolling in a Picture, The Fairyland of Guilin and A Visit to the Seven Star Cave at Night.

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