SDG11
NCKU Performance of Kunqu Classic "The Jade Hairpin": Merging Tradition, Innovation, and Education
The Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) and the Art Center of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) co-hosted a Kunqu opera performance on the afternoon of March 21. Curated and led by Professor Cheng-Ta Yang, Director of CHASS, the event featured outstanding local Kunqu practitioners and integrated academic curricula, creating a cultural grand event that merged traditional art, educational practice, and interdisciplinary innovation.
Director Cheng-Ta Yang of CHASS explained that the performance featured four select scenes from the Kunqu classic The Jade Hairpin: "Flirting with the Zither," "Visiting the Sick," "Stealing the Poem," and "The Autumn River." These scenes delicately unfold the emotional journey between the protagonists—from mutual attraction sparked by music to the pining of love, the poetic expression of affection, and the bittersweet parting on the river. The text was based on the 1985 stage version refined by renowned Kunqu masters Yue Meiti (Sheng role) and Hua Wenyi (Dan role). This version is highly representative in the Kunqu world, as it preserves traditional performance conventions (Chengshi) while establishing a clear and fluid dramatic rhythm, making it a definitive classic.
Min-Yuan Ma, Director of the NCKU Art Center, noted that another highlight was the joint performance by NCKU faculty and students. Students from the "Performing Arts and Administrative Management" and "Traditional Opera and Performing Arts" courses—led by Associate Professor Wei-Hsi Ma, convener of the Interdisciplinary Program in Drama—presented a micro-opening show titled Artistic Spark. Rooted in the "Four Skills and Five Methods" (四功五法) of Chinese opera, the students showcased their rigorous training while incorporating elements of the local Song Jiang martial arts formation (宋江陣). This fusion displayed youthful vitality and the dynamic tension of folk ritual culture, embodying the educational philosophy of "integrating activities into the curriculum and turning the curriculum into active practice."
Through this dialogue with history and traditional culture, students were encouraged to cultivate humanistic concern. It is hoped that this experience will serve as a starting point for students to connect more deeply with their local heritage and explore mysterious cultural realms rarely encountered in daily life.
This showcase was more than a performance of traditional opera; it was a significant achievement in the integration of teaching, research, and practice. Through the actors' exquisite skills in singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatic combat, the performance highlighted the graceful and intricate nature of Kunqu, reviving its profound humanistic heritage. Furthermore, the collaborative stage shared by teachers and students allowed the younger generation to deepen their understanding of traditional culture through practice, fostering the reinterpretation and cultural dialogue of classical arts in contemporary society.
The CHASS and the Art Center of NCKU have long been committed to promoting humanities and arts education alongside social practice. This Kunqu performance not only demonstrated the fruitful results of interdisciplinary teaching but also injected new creative energy into traditional arts, expanding the diverse possibilities of humanistic aesthetics in modern society.
Performance Information: Kunqu Opera "The Jade Hairpin"
Director Cheng-Ta Yang of CHASS explained that the performance featured four select scenes from the Kunqu classic The Jade Hairpin: "Flirting with the Zither," "Visiting the Sick," "Stealing the Poem," and "The Autumn River." These scenes delicately unfold the emotional journey between the protagonists—from mutual attraction sparked by music to the pining of love, the poetic expression of affection, and the bittersweet parting on the river. The text was based on the 1985 stage version refined by renowned Kunqu masters Yue Meiti (Sheng role) and Hua Wenyi (Dan role). This version is highly representative in the Kunqu world, as it preserves traditional performance conventions (Chengshi) while establishing a clear and fluid dramatic rhythm, making it a definitive classic.
Min-Yuan Ma, Director of the NCKU Art Center, noted that another highlight was the joint performance by NCKU faculty and students. Students from the "Performing Arts and Administrative Management" and "Traditional Opera and Performing Arts" courses—led by Associate Professor Wei-Hsi Ma, convener of the Interdisciplinary Program in Drama—presented a micro-opening show titled Artistic Spark. Rooted in the "Four Skills and Five Methods" (四功五法) of Chinese opera, the students showcased their rigorous training while incorporating elements of the local Song Jiang martial arts formation (宋江陣). This fusion displayed youthful vitality and the dynamic tension of folk ritual culture, embodying the educational philosophy of "integrating activities into the curriculum and turning the curriculum into active practice."
Through this dialogue with history and traditional culture, students were encouraged to cultivate humanistic concern. It is hoped that this experience will serve as a starting point for students to connect more deeply with their local heritage and explore mysterious cultural realms rarely encountered in daily life.
This showcase was more than a performance of traditional opera; it was a significant achievement in the integration of teaching, research, and practice. Through the actors' exquisite skills in singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatic combat, the performance highlighted the graceful and intricate nature of Kunqu, reviving its profound humanistic heritage. Furthermore, the collaborative stage shared by teachers and students allowed the younger generation to deepen their understanding of traditional culture through practice, fostering the reinterpretation and cultural dialogue of classical arts in contemporary society.
The CHASS and the Art Center of NCKU have long been committed to promoting humanities and arts education alongside social practice. This Kunqu performance not only demonstrated the fruitful results of interdisciplinary teaching but also injected new creative energy into traditional arts, expanding the diverse possibilities of humanistic aesthetics in modern society.
Performance Information: Kunqu Opera "The Jade Hairpin"
| Date & Time | Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 14:00 |
| Venue | Cheng-Kung Auditorium, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) |
| Organizers |
Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), NCKU Art Center |
| Co-organizer | VCMLab of the Department of Psychology at NCKU, Extrait Kun, Dongning Ya-Ji, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts (NTCPA), Interdisciplinary Program in Drama of the College of Liberal Arts at NCKU, Graduate Institute of Art Studies and Master’s Program in Drama at NCKU, Taiwan Sport Culture Research Project of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), USR Project: Badlands Collaboration 3.0, G.R.E.A.T.: Building Regional Resilience and Green Networks for Prosperous Satoyama Life, Universal Cement Corporation, and Sanping Community Development Association of Neimen District, Kaohsiung City. |
Jointly organized by the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) and the Art Center, a Kunqu opera performance grandly debuted at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on the afternoon of March 21.
The performance featured four select scenes from the Kunqu classic The Jade Hairpin: "The Lute Tease," "Visiting the Sick," "Stealing the Poem," and "The Autumn River." Curated and led by Professor Cheng-Ta Yang (front), Director of CHASS, the event also featured guest performances by outstanding local Kunqu practitioners.
Another major highlight was the joint performance by NCKU faculty and students. The micro-opening show, Artistic Spark, was led by Associate Professor Wei-Hsi Ma (pictured in black on the left), convener of the Interdisciplinary Program in Drama, featuring students from the "Performing Arts and Administrative Management" and "Traditional Opera and Performing Arts" courses.
Students from the "Traditional Opera and Performing Arts" course pictured after their performance.
The opening show, Artistic Spark, featured students performing the "Four Skills and Five Methods" of traditional opera. The act integrated local Song Jiang Battle Array elements, creating a powerful display of youthful energy and the vibrant spirit of folk arts.
By integrating academic curricula, this Kunqu performance presented a cultural grand event that seamlessly merged traditional art, educational practice, and interdisciplinary innovation.
