Literacy Preservation and Transmission of Taowan Xia in Sizhou Opera, China

Abstract

This study examines the transmission and preservation methods of Sizhou Opera, a traditional folk art from Anhui Province, via the committed efforts of national intangible cultural heritage inheritor Taowan Xia. We used ethnomusicological theory and qualitative fieldwork methods, including interviews, participant observation, and visual documentation, to investigate how Taowan Xia incorporates Sizhou Opera into various cultural contexts, including schools, communities, families, and festivals. The findings indicate that her work adopts a multifaceted approach: integrating Sizhou Opera into educational curricula, utilizing digital platforms for outreach, preserving oral traditions through master-apprentice and familial instruction, and incorporating performances into social and ritual events. To present a complete strategy for preserving intangible cultural assets and give significant insights into the sustained resuscitation of regional operatic traditions within contemporary Chinese culture.