In the countryside of Zhanhua District, Binzhou City, Shandong Province, a folk rhyme is widely circulated: "Drop your livestock, cast aside your baskets—the sound of *Yugu* opera drifts from the village." This simple yet evocative verse captures the local people's deep fascination with an ancient art form: Zhanhua *Yugu* Opera. Originating in the first year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1723), this theatrical genre once teetered on the brink of extinction. However, thanks to nearly two decades of intensive "rescue-style" preservation efforts, it has undergone a magnificent transformation—evolving from a solitary "swan song" into a vibrant constellation of performers—and now shines as a brilliant highlight within China's national intangible cultural heritage.
I. "Three Lines to a Verse": The Rhythms of the *Yugu* Drum
Zhanhua *Yugu* Opera did not emerge in a vacuum; it stands as a "living fossil" born from the fusion of Taoist culture, migrant culture, and local Shandong traditions. In days gone by, villagers in Hujiaying Village, inspired after listening to Taoist priests perform *Daoqing* (Taoist narrative singing), began to blend these performances with local fishermen's work chants, martial arts, and folk dances. Through this synthesis, this unique form of traditional opera gradually took shape.
Its artistic characteristics are remarkably distinct, with its most defining feature being the "three-line hook" structure. Unlike the symmetrical couplets typical of most traditional Chinese operas, the lyrics in Zhanhua *Yugu* Opera are typically structured in three-line verses—colloquially known as "three legs." This unconventional structure creates a dynamic sense of rhythmic momentum and dramatic tension. During a performance, a lead singer delivers the melody in a high-pitched, resonant voice, while a chorus responds with enthusiastic harmony. This vocal interplay is accompanied by the steady, rhythmic beat of the *Yugu* drum (also known as the *Daotong* or "Taoist cylinder") and the soaring accompaniment of the *Yuhu*—an improved musical instrument that has been awarded a national patent. Together, these elements create a unique sonic landscape characterized by a harmonious trinity of "chorus, percussion, and lead vocals."
II. A Chronicle of "Rescue": Racing Against Time
As the calendar turned to the early 21st century, this ancient art form found itself teetering on the edge of an abyss. Buffeted by the impact of modern entertainment and various historical factors, by 2006, only four veteran artists remained who were capable of performing the opera in its entirety. With an average age of 78, the art form faced a dire crisis: the imminent threat that the tradition would vanish forever as its last practitioners passed away.
The turning point arrived in 2006. Wang Chunzhen—then director of the Zhanhua Lv Opera Troupe (later renamed the Zhanhua Yugu Opera Troupe), which was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy—led her team on three separate expeditions to Hujiaying Village, the art form's birthplace, where they lived and dined alongside veteran folk artists. Employing a method that was perhaps rudimentary yet highly effective—recording every line verbatim and compiling handwritten manuscripts—they undertook a rescue mission over the course of 32 days, recording 47 distinct vocal segments and reconstructing 21 traditional melodic patterns. This race against time succeeded in pulling Yugu Opera back from the very edge of oblivion.
III. "Going Viral": A Niche Art Form Breaks Through
Rescuing the art form was merely the first step; the greater challenge lay in figuring out how to make modern youth fall in love with this "rustic" vocal style. The answer provided by the Zhanhua Yugu Opera Troupe was a two-pronged strategy: a focus on "short-form plays" combined with "modern modes of expression."
The troupe broke away from the traditional opera paradigm of large-scale, high-budget productions, opting instead to specialize in "short-form plays" (one-act dramas). This format is concise and incisive, offering creative flexibility that allows for the rapid portrayal of contemporary social themes—such as rural revitalization and anti-corruption initiatives—while simultaneously lowering the barrier to entry for audiences. For instance, newly created short plays like *The Trial of the Bailiff* and *Old Xie Takes Office* not only swept up seven major awards at the China Short-Form Opera Festival but also clinched the prestigious "Stars Award"—the highest government honor in the field of grassroots arts.
In terms of talent development and succession planning, the local authorities demonstrated bold innovation. The troupe was reclassified as a fully state-funded public institution, thereby eliminating financial uncertainties and providing job security for its members. Furthermore, the organization waived standard academic degree requirements, granting special exceptions to recruit artists with exceptional "childhood-trained" skills—talents honed from a young age—from institutions such as the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Today, the troupe's average age has dropped to 38.5, with artists born in the 1990s—and even the 2000s—emerging as the core pillars of the ensemble.
From the brink of extinction to performing hundreds of shows annually—and from singing in rural fields to gracing national stages—the revival of Zhanhua Yugu Opera represents far more than just the preservation of a traditional craft. It serves as compelling proof that, provided one discovers the right "approach," traditional folk arts can indeed burst forth with vibrant vitality within the context of modern society.
