As an intangible cultural heritage, Wuju opera is the oldest local opera in Zhejiang, with six shengqiang or vocal tones, the most varied among any operas, including the high-pitched tune, the Kunqu opera tune, the Luantan (literally “random pluck”) tune, the Huiju opera tune, the Tanhuang (a local folk opera art) tune and the Shidiao (popular local ditties) tune. Popular in the Jinhua area of central Zhejiang province, Wuju opera is one of the most important opera art forms in China.

Contrary to what many may have believed, Wuju opera is not an amalgamation of the six shengqiang or vocal tunes. Rather, each is featured with its own repertoire. Then, there are also different combinations. In fact, in its early years, troupes centered on the high-pitched tune, the Kunqu opera tune or the Luantan tune were formed independently and performed plays based on these tunes respectively. Overtime, those incorporating all three tunes called “tri performance troupes” were born. Later, when Huiju opera was introduced to Jinhua, some tri performance troupes ditched the high pitched tune, and welcomed the Huiju opera tune into their embrace, while a number of Huiju opera troupes instead combined with the Luantan tune. By the time when the Tanhuang tune and the Shidiao tune were assimilated, Wuju opera was even more enriched in terms of both the tunes and repertoire.

It is not a coincidence for Wuju opera to become what it is today. Standing at the intersection of Jiangxi, Fujian, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, and an important wharf along the Xin’an River, Jinhua has historically been a key commercial center in the region. During the Ming (1368 1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties, Jinhua was also a crucial trading post where salt and silk were sold to Jiangxi and lacquer and porcelain were imported into Zhejiang. Coupled with abundant natural resources, there seems no surprise that various people, and indeed operas, were attracted to Jinhua. It is even said that the history of commerce in the Jinhua area is the history of  Wuju opera.

Maybe because of the historical mixture and its rural base, Wuju opera was considered uncultured by the literati. It was rarely mentioned in official histories, documents and records, unlike its more refined younger “cousin”, the Yueju opera.

Despite its long history, the development of Wuju opera isn’t always smooth sailing, especially in the hundred years or so before 1949, when foreign invasion and wars gripped much of China. At the founding of the People’s Republic of China, only a handful of Wuju opera troupes were left in Jinhua. In 1953, authorities in Zhejiang established the Jinhua Wuju Opera Experimental Troupe and the Zhejiang Wuju Opera Experimental Troupe, before officially setting up the Zhejiang Provincial Wuju Opera Troupe in 1956, marking the revival of Wuju opera in the new era.

To cultivate more Wuju opera talents, the Zhejiang Provincial Wuju Opera Troupe then recruited quite a number of young performers, including Zheng Lanxiang and Wu Guangyu, who would later grow into masters of the art form. In 1958, 45 students joined a vocational program that was specially tailored for Wuju opera performance, the first cohort after the PRC was established.

Wuju opera received another boost when Chairman Mao watched one of the traditional plays in Hangzhou in 1960, and spoke highly of the performance. Two years later, the Zhejiang Provincial Wuju Opera Troupe had the chance to perform in capital Beijing for the first time. More national leaders, including Premier Zhou Enlai, attended the performance. Premier Zhou enjoyed the show so much that he watched it three times, and even invited some singers to his residence in Zhongnanhai to talk about the opera. Later, with more performances in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, Wuju opera has made more inroads into urban areas.

However, for Wuju opera, its roots ultimately lie in the countryside. Over the past few decades, the Zhejiang Provincial Wuju Opera Troupe has regularly delivered free performances   more than 300 every year in recent years－to residents in rural areas. And the plays chosen are usually those either popular with rural residents or adapted to show the latest state of rural life.

The adaption is made all the easy by the rich repertoire of  Wuju  opera. According to a survey done in the 1950s, there were at least 390 full-length plays and over 400 short plays. The subjects range from history, politics and wars to everyday life. As far as performing is concerned, Wuju opera is characterized by exaggerated and intense movements, with many traditional gestures, footwork and movements. One notable feature is the finger poses and hand gestures, which Wuju opera performers paid special attention to, as the costumes for Wuju opera did not have sleeves in the past. Quite a number of acrobatic moves have also been incorporated , such as face-changing and teeth play.

Today, Wuju opera is a nationally recognized cultural treasure. Apart from public troupes, privately run troupes are thriving as well. In Jinyun county, Lishui city, for instance, some 40 such troupes are planning to form an alliance, to better develop Wuju opera and so that more people can feel its charm. Wuju opera is also stepping onto the international stage. The Zhejiang Provincial Wuju Opera Troupe has so far visited about 50 countries, with more in the pipeline, bringing the art of Wuju opera to a global audience.