Academic Lecture (274): Linfengduqu: Linguistic Tones and Vocal Systems in Traditional Chinese Opera

Lecturer

Yang Hanru

Lecturer: Yang Hanru

Profile:

Yang Hanru graduated from the Graduate Institute of Theatre Performance at Taipei National University of the Arts. She also studied under renowned Kunqu Opera masters such as Yue Meiti, Cai Zhengren, Ji Zhenhua, Wang Shiyu, and Lin Weilin. She currently works at the Chien-Kuo Engineering Cultural and Arts Foundation, and serves as the Artistic Director of the 1/2Q Theater, a young male lead actor for the Shuimo Quji and Taiwan Kunqu Opera Troupe, a part-time lecturer at National Taiwan University and Taipei National University of the Arts, and an instructor for the Kunqu Opera Society at National Taiwan University.

Published works: Linfengduqu: Yue Meiti — The Performing Art of Young Male Leads in Kunqu Opera and Linfengduqu: Yue Meiti (Volume 2) — The Performing Art of Young Male Leads in Kunqu Opera (both compiled from oral narration).

Awards: Who’s In The Panting (1/2Q Theater) — Best Work of the Year and Best Music Design; Peach Blossom Rain (1/2Q Theater) — Taishin Arts Award Jury Special Award; Nanke Story, Boat Fantasy for Mona Lisa, and Willow Dreams of Plum (1/2Q Theater) — among the Taishin Arts Awards’ Top Ten Works of the Year; National Taiwan University Teaching Excellence Award (Part-time Faculty), 2023 and 2024 academic years.

Abstract:

This lecture traces the literary lineage from Han fu, Tang poetry, Song ci, and Yuan qu through to zaju, Kunqu, and Peking Opera. It explains how linguistic tones shape operatic singing and rhythm, demonstrates the entering tone (rusheng) and discusses how to avoid “inverted-tone” mispronunciation. It introduces the metrical structures of the qupai-based Kunqu and the banqiang-based Peking Opera, including beat structures (banyan) and phrasing. Drawing on the Kunqu excerpts Qin Tiao from The Jade Hairpin, Wang Xiang from The Shepherd’s Tale, and Ting Hui from The Red Pear Story, it explains the role-type performance and musical structure in detail.