Chinese Ancient Music
　　China is known as a country of music in the far ancient times; the Chinese ancient music is of great importance in the culture and etiquette of the country. With a longstanding tradition of musical education as early as the Warring State Period, Confucius had set the study procedures from poems to etiquette and then the last important, to music. Developed from the primitive music created in collective laboring, Chinese music has expanded into a huge system for a long-term creation with rich instruments and forms, and a large number of excellent musicians and pieces. Talking about Chinese music, the unique folk music and the “essence” of China culture, the Chinese operas, can not be missed, and while talking about folk songs, we have to mention the Jasmine Flowers, which is a world- renowned song and identified as the premier representative of the Chinese folk music.
　　Chinese new national music is a new concept that is popular from the end of the last century. It is a new piece of music that ingeniously combines the traditional Chinese music with western and modern music. Added in pop skills and elements, the national music is now performed in rich art forms. Some famous players started the innovation of the traditional music with modern music, and they added in kinds of traditional instruments, such as Xiao, flutes in different types, and ethic instruments of Hulusi (cucurbit flute), Bawu and so on. Later, new music and performance are popular among people in the country, and numerous musicians start creations of this kind.

       The Chinese national musical instrument is the key part in Chinese music. With a long history standing, there are a series of national instruments developed in China. In terms of material, there are Ba Yin (Chinese:八音), that is, the eight categories of musical instrument in ancient orchestra, namely, metal, stone, string, bamboo, gourd, clay, leather and wood. In terms of playing skills, there are generally four kinds, percussion instruments (bells, drums, and gongs), wind instruments (flutes, Suona and Xiao), bowed string instruments (Banhu and Erhu) and plucked string instruments (Guzheng, Pipa and Sanxuan).

　　Chinese nation created a marvelous culture of music which also has a far- reaching influence to the country’ s neighboring areas.

注释：

1.     Warring State Period
    战国时期， 指公元前475年至公元前221年， 是历史上秦统一中国前属于东周的一段历史时期。
2.     Confucius孔子 （公元前551～公元前479）， 名丘， 字仲尼。春秋末期的思想家和教育家、 政治家， 儒家思想的创始人， 是 “世界十大文化名人” 之首。
3.     Confucius had set the study procedures from poems to etiquette and then the last important, to music.
    孔子提出了学习的步骤， 从诗开始， 然后到礼， 最后同样重要的是乐。
4.     collective laboring     
    集体劳动。当我们的祖先由类人猿进化为人， 为了使生命个体能够存在和种族能够延续， 必须从事劳动， 随同工具的使用和语言的产生， 就孕育了音乐。
5. Bawu 巴乌， 属竹管铜簧乐器， 簧为舌形， 是彝族、 哈尼族、 傣族、 佤族、 布朗族、 苗族等族吹奏的乐器。

Chinese Opera ( I )
　　Beijing Opera
　　Originally a form of local theatre, Peking Opera was spread all over the country and then became the national opera of China. About 200 years ago, the Qing Emperor Qianlong toured in southern China and developed an interest in the local operas. On his 80th birthday, he let local opera troupes come to Beijing to perform for him. Some remained in Beijing after the celebration. The ones from Anhui and Hubei were incorporated with the palace opera—Kunqu Opera, which formed the Peking Opera. Peking Opera combines stylized acting with singing, dancing, musical dialogues, martial arts, colorful facial make-up and fantastic costumes. Female roles are called as “Dan” , Male roles are “Sheng” , Painted faces are “Jing” and clowns are “Chou” . Each role, according to their sex, age and disposition, is characterized by different designs of facial make-up, with Jing representing a rough, frank character and Hua Face representing a cruel or sinister character. So the audience can easily tell what kind of character an actor is performing. Facial make-up, costumes and head-dresses are wonderful works of traditional art.

Guangdong Opera
　　It is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China’ s Cantonese culture. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, and Malaysia. As in all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics, and acting. Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao are jointly trying to get UN recognition of Guangdong opera as intangible World Heritage. An official application has been handed in.
　　Henan Opera

　　It is commonly called “Henan Bangzi” . Henan Opera is popular among the provinces or regions of Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Hubei, Ningxia, Xin jiang, and so on, making it one of the most influential operas in China. Instruments such as the banhu, erhu, sanxian, pipa, dizi,  sheng, and suona, and so on always accompany Henan Opera.

注释：

1.     Peking Opera was spread all over the country and then became the national opera of China. 京剧风靡全国并成为中国的国剧。京剧是中国的 “国粹”， 历史上曾有皮黄、 二黄、 黄腔、 京调、 京戏、 评剧、 国剧等称谓。
2.     The ones from Anhui and Hubei were incorporated with the palace opera—Kunqu Opera.
    来自安徽和湖北的地方戏剧与宫廷剧——昆曲相融合。
3.    Peking Opera combines stylized acting with singing, dancing, musical dialogues, martial arts, colorful facial make-up and fantastic costumes. 京剧表演融合了唱、 念、 做、 打等多种艺术表现形式， 辅以五彩缤纷的服装道具以及化妆。
4.     Female roles are called as “Dan” , Male roles are “Sheng” , Painted faces are “Jing” and clowns are “Chou” .
    在京剧中,  女性的角色被称作 “旦” , 男性的角色被称作 “生” , 花脸被称用 “净”, 小丑被称作 “丑” 。
5.     Each role, according to their sex, age and disposition, is characterized by different designs of facial make-up.
    每个角色都会依照他们的性别、 年龄及个性， 在脸上画不同的脸谱。
6.     To get UN recognition of Guangdong opera as intangible World Heritage.
    努力促使广东粤剧成为得到联合国认可的世界无形文化遗产。
7.     It is commonly called “Henan Bangzi” .豫剧通常被人们称作 “河南梆子”。
8.     Instruments such as the banhu, erhu, sanxian, pipa, dizi, sheng, and suona, and so on always accompany Henan Opera.
    豫剧的演奏乐器包括板胡、 二胡、 三弦、 琵琶、 笛子、笙和唢呐， 等等。

Huangmei Opera
　　Huangmei Opera, formerly named Huangmei Melodies, has a history of 200 years. It originated in the tea-collecting songs in the region of Huangmei, Hubei Province, and it incorporates the folk songs in Anhui, Hubei and Jiangxi Provinces. It takes the best parts of ancient Qingyang Melody and came into being around the area of Anqing, Anhui Province. Huangmei Opera excels in expressing people’ s feelings and various personalities. It is not only loved by local people, but by international friends as well.
　　Sichuan Opera
　　Sichuan Opera is one of the Chinese oldest local operas and is popular in Sichuan Province and some regions of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. It is the most significant and most interesting opera form from Southwestern China. As a stage entertainment, it conveys the idea of time and space to the audience through performances. The opera is characterized by its unique solo singing, refined acting, and also its unique skills: the changing faces, spitting fire, and rolling light.
　　The Face Changing, or “bianlian” in Chinese, is an important intangible cultural heritage in China. Only a few masters have grasped this skill. They know how to change Sichuan Opera masks in magically quick succession. As they flourish their arms and twist their heads, their painted masks change again and again and again, which is considered to be a magic.

注释：

1.    Huangmei Opera, formerly named Huangmei Melodies.黄梅戏从前也叫黄梅调。
2.     It originated in the tea-collecting songs in the region of Huangmei.它起源于湖北黄梅地区的采茶调。
3.     It takes the best parts of ancient Qingyang Melody.
    它汲取了古老的青阳唱腔中的精髓。黄梅戏唱腔委婉清新， 分花腔和平词两大类。花腔以演小戏为主， 富有浓厚的生活气息和民歌风味， 平词是正本戏中最主要的唱腔， 常用于大段叙述， 抒情， 听起来委婉悠扬， 有 《梁祝》《天仙配》 等著名曲目。
4.     excels in expressing people’ s feelings and various personalities.它以擅长抒发人物情感和刻画人物性格而见长。
5.     The opera is characterized by its unique solo singing, refined acting, and also its unique skills: the changing faces, spitting fire, and rolling light.
    这一剧种具有独特的演唱风格和细腻的表演， 同时还拥有特殊的表演技巧， 如变脸、 喷火和滚灯， 等等。变脸是川剧表演艺术的特殊技巧之一。它是剧中人物内心思想感情的一种浪漫主义表现手法。变脸的方法大体分为三种——抹脸、 吹脸、 扯脸。
6.     The Face Changing, or “Bianlian” in Chinese, is an important intangible cultural heritage in China. 变脸是中国一项重要的非物质文化遗产。2006年5月20日， 经国务院批准列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
7.     ...how to change Sichuan Opera masks in magically quick succession 如何在一瞬间连续神奇地变出各种川剧的脸谱