At the age of 80, master Liang Shuzhen has been performing Hakka Opera for 65 years. However, discovering the art form was a chance encounter for her. Her teacher had given her two tickets to a show, so she went to watch it with her cousin. From that first moment, she fell in love with Hakka Opera.
"Wow, it was gorgeous, even the music was beautiful, and the stage was also very beautiful. The show was very lyrical, like a poem. So I fell in love with it," she said.
Hakka Opera master Liang Suzhen. ©CGTN | DakenArt
Known as "the capital of Hakka," Meizhou City is the largest region and cultural homeland of the Hakka people. Here, its traditional Hakka culture, such as the famous Round-Dragon house, shapes their daily life and social customs.
The Round-Dragon house in Meizhou City. ©CGTN | Daken Art
According to Master Liang Shuzhen, Hakka Opera is also called Guangdong Han Opera. It was introduced in Guangdong Province 300 years ago. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Waijiang troupes would enter Meizhou and encourage the locals to learn and perform, especially the artists from Zhongjunban of Hakka.
At that time, Hakka Opera was called Waijiang Opera because the Waijiang troupes were from north China, so the opera is sung in Mandarin. As time went by, the Hakka Opera has been integrated with the folk music from eastern Guangdong, the Buddhist and Taoist music, and also Zhongjunban music (it used to be played at weddings and funerals in Meicheng, Xingning, Wuhua, Dapu and other places). Gradually, it has established its own artistic style.
Liang Suzhen performing in the 1990s. ©CGTN | Daken Art
Its inclusiveness of other cultures has made Hakka Opera more diverse. For example, as one of the big four operas in Guangdong, Hakka Opera had merged the Central Plain Culture in China into its folk traditional culture.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the local government supported Hakka Opera and brought new life to it – the Guangdong Han Opera Theatre was founded. Liang enjoyed great popularity during her career. Now retired, she dedicates her time to training young performers.
A young actor getting ready for a show in Yantian, Shenzhen. ©CGTN | Daken Art
"Everything we do is to keep the culture relevant," says Liang, "so we can cultivate more talents and pass it on to the next generations."