Liuqiang

Liuqiang () is a regional form of Chinese opera from Jimo District, Qingdao in eastern Shandong province. It arose in the mid-Qing dynasty from "benzhougu" (), a "quyi" created by beggars. "Liuqiang" was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008.
"Liuqiang" is centered in Qingdao, Pingdu, Laiyang, Laixi, Haiyang, and Jiaozhou City. It is closely related to "maoqiang", a regional form also derived from "benzhougu" and popular further west. Many older artists could perform both. 
History.
"Liuqiang" originated in the western part of Jimo during the mid-Qing Dynasty. In 1748, floods and pest outbreaks made people's lives miserable, and many fled to other areas begging while singing about their experiences using tunes from their hometowns. Their performing style was given the name of "zhouguzi" (, "elbow drum", or ) or "benzhougu". When this style arrived in Jimo, it integrated with local folk music and "yangge" dance and gradually evolved into an early form of "liuqiang". Places where it was particularly well-received included Liujiazhuang (, in today's Duanbolan), Lügezhuang (, in today's Yifengdian), Nuocheng (, in today's Lancun Subdistrict), and Fengxiangzhuang (, in Yifengdian). In the beginning, the only instruments were "gong" and hand drums, but enthusiasts later used the "sihu" to accompany the singing. As the singing and accompaniment did not always match, higher and higher went their pitches, which gave rise to the name "liuqiang" (, later the better-sounding , "willowy tune"). 
Early "liuqiang" performances were held during festivals and slack farming seasons, with three or five performers and little regard of costumes, role types, face painting, and music. Sometimes, an actor needed to play several roles in one play. In the ensuing decades, performances became more complicated and professional. Around 1900, five professional troupes were established in Liujiazhuang, Qiji (, in Yifengdian), Yifeng (, also in Yifengdian), and Nanquan (, in Lancun) which performed not just locally, but also in more urban places like Pingdu, Ye County (now Laizhou), and Laiyang. After the 1911 Revolution, performers like Jiang Wenxing (), Jiang Wenlong (), Dong Qiansan (), Fan Youshan (), Lan Dexian (), Liu Zuolian (), and Yang Lida () went to Qingdao and performed in theaters in Dongzhen (, in today's Shibei District), Shinan, Sifang, and Cangkou. Many of them traveled regularly between rural and urban areas.
After the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Japanese invaders forbade rural performances. Liu Zuolian and others returned to Qingdao where they expanded their troupes and established a base for regular performances. During this period, "liuqiang" actors often performed together with actors of Hebei bangzi, Ping opera, "maoqiang" and Peking opera on the same stage, sometimes in the same play. In the process, "liuqiang" was able to absorb many elements from other Chinese operas.
In 1950, the Venus Liuqiang Opera Troupe () was established in Qingdao. It was renamed the Qingdao Liuqiang Opera Troupe in 1959 and went to Beijing to perform traditional repertoire to national leaders. During the Cultural Revolution professional troupes were disbanded and performances banned until 1976. In 1976, Qingdao's Cultural Affairs Bureau had former professional actors mentor a young generation of actors for two years, and only after that did performances resume. In January 1989, Jimo Liuqiang Opera Troupe again performed in Beijing.
Famous artists.
Song Xunguang (, 1916–1975) was the leader of the Qingdao Liuqiang Opera Troupe. He was born in Jimo and started his stage career when he was 18, specializing in "xiaosheng" roles. In the early 1940s, Song Xunguang went to Qingdao and performed "maoqiang". In 1949, he joined the Qingdao Maoqiang Opera Troupe and was later transferred to the Venus Liuqiang Opera Troupe before being appointed the head of the troupe. During the Cultural Revolution, he was tortured and sent back to his hometown. In October 1975, the Cultural Affairs Bureau read out the decision to vindicate him in front of his death bed. He died the next day at the age of 58.
Zhang Xiyun (, 1931–1982), born Jiang Yunhua (), was from Jiao County (today's Jiaozhou City). When she was eight years old, she learned "maoqiang" from her aunt. After the 1949 Chinese Communist Revolution, Zhang Xiyun joined what later became the Qingdao Liuqiang Opera Troupe. Zhang Xiyun mainly impersonated men in "xiaosheng" roles, although she also acted in "qingyi" roles. Her sister Zhang Xiuyu (, 1928–1995) played "dan" roles.