Opera performances in the Ming dynasty court

Abstract

The court opera performances in the Ming Dynasty were carried out by specialized institutions and were closely related to various activities such as royal sacrifices and birthday banquets. Its development showed the characteristics of clear institutional division of labor and the gradual integration of performance content with folk opera. During the Ming Dynasty, the core court agencies responsible for opera performances were divided into the Zhonggu Department and the Jiaofang Department, each with distinct responsibilities. As folk opera matured in the late Ming Dynasty, the Zhonggu Department and Jiaofang Department inevitably introduced and studied folk opera works. The court provided exquisite costumes and props for opera performances, and the transfer of these materials to the public also promoted the development of folk opera actors' character creation and the pursuit of costumes and props