The Enchanting Huagu Opera: A Tale of Courage and Devotion

◎安徽省淮北市第十二中学 邱博睿 指导教师：王苗苗

花鼓戏，又称花鼓，起源于4000 多年前的夏朝，是安徽合肥地区劳动人民创造并广为流传的地方戏。花鼓戏以其优美的舞蹈、动人的唱腔、特色的乐器和丰富的表演形式，成为当地文化的重要组成部分。

Huagu Opera, also known as Flower Drum, is a traditional local dance, dating back over 4000 years to the Xia Dynasty.

This local art form is popular among the working class in Yingshang, Hefei, Anhui, where it has become an essential part of the local culture.Huagu Opera is a unique combination of dance,singing, gongs, drums, and opera, offering a window into the rich cultural heritage and lifestyle of the region.

The gentle yet powerful rhythm(韵律) of Huagu Opera is what makes it so fascinating and appealing to audiences across China.The people of Yingshang, the birthplace of this dance, firmly believe that Huagu Opera is proof of their courage and energy.They have supported and promoted this art form for centuries, ensuring its preservation and continuation.

According to legend, Huagu Opera originated in the Xia Dynasty.At the foot of Tushan Mountain, Dayu set out to conquer the floods.He spent 13 years in flood control and passed by his home three times without entering.His wife missed him very much and stood on the hillside every day holding her son and looking into the distance, wishing her husband’s success in flood control and an early return.She was eager to see her husband and her sincerity was so great that she turned into a huge stone, which was later called “Wangfu Stone” or “Qimu Stone”.In order to honor them, people built a temple called King Yu Temple.On March 28th of the lunar calendar,people came to the temple fair, played drums and gongs, and danced.Since then Huagu Opera has been passed down to the present.

To better protect the intangible heritage project of Huagu Opera, the government and local people in Anhui have made great efforts to preserve and promote Huagu Opera.Firstly, they have held various activities such as Huagu performances, dragon and lion dances, etc.to introduce intangible heritage projects into the community and enrich residents’ cultural life.Besides, some performers have been to primary schools to explain the historical origin, performance forms and characteristics of Huagu Opera to students.They have also given some wonderful performances.The students said that through this activity, they had a deeper understanding of Huagu Opera and felt the unique charm of the traditional culture.