Field Study

• Xinfan zongbian, or palm fiber weaving from Xinbian town in Sichuan province

Stemming from the Emperor Jiaqing’s reign during the Qing Dynasty, Xinfan zongbian has endured for more than 200 years. It was recorded in historical documents that Xinfan women’s tradition of “dissecting tender palm leaves into fibers, and weaving them into sandals.” The raw materials of Xinfan zongbian mainly come from mountainous areas of Pengxian, Dayi, Qionglai and Dujiangyan counties. After being combed by row needles, the palm leaves that craftsmen collect each April will be turned into palm fibers, like green noodles. These palm fibers will go though a series of processes - twisting, steaming, bleaching and airing - after which they will become white and soft, material ready to be used. Or they can be partly dyed in multi-colors, like flowery silky ribbons and used as special decorations in palm-fiber-woven objects.

Each summer and autumn marks the peak season of Xinfan zongbian production. The production varies as seasons and demands change, with summer hats and sandals processed in summer and handbags in autumn. Widely known to everyone in the Xinfan area and mastered by many rural women, the skill of Xinfan zongbian is quite complicated in terms of weaving and processing. It takes more than 10 steps to complete one piece of work. Take a summer hat, for example. A skilled craftsman can only complete two summer hats each day, which shows the complexity and delicacy of the craft.

The major products of Xinfan zongbian, including hats, shoes, pillow covers, summer sleeping mats, chair cushions, handbags, fruit bowls, schoolbags and toys, are closely related to people’s daily lives and well received by them. The products woven in plain-color palm fiber, in particular, tend to have an elegant silk-like effect.

• Sichuan Opera

Sichuan Opera is a synthesis of five historic melodic styles, which are rarely seen in Chinese operas. It is popular mainly in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

Opera troupes were prevalent in some areas of Sichuan province during the Ming Dynasty. After that, Kunqiang, Gaoqiang, Bangzi and Pihuang melodies merged with local lantern dramas during the reign of Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. It was then that Sichuan Opera started to take its shape. Sichuan Opera is characterized by its rich local flavor and humorous expression, having a systematic performance formula with a combination of stunts like lifting, face-changing, sword-hiding and fire-spitting. Sichuan Opera has a wide repertoire of traditional plays.

The play performed was a traditional one, featuring actors and actresses from the Academy of Sichuan Opera in Chengdu. With its origin dating back to the notable Sanqinq (Three Celebrations) Company, the academy is one the most renowned professional opera troupes. The special artistic style of Sichuan Opera is well inherited and developed by the Academy.

The academy has composed and performed many influential works such as Legend of the White Snake and Princess Wencheng, winning many awards from the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPC and the Ministry of Culture. It fully shows how an opera academy facilitates the development of a type of opera.