Yangzhou Tanci was allowed into the 2nd batch of national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008 approved by the State Council.
Originally named as Xuanci, Yangzhou Tanci is a type of traditional opera in the Tanci system based on Yangzhou dialect. Since being born in the end of the Ming Dynasty, it has had a long standing for 400 years. Yangzhou Tanci was allowed into the 2nd batch of national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008 approved by the State Council. Its representative stories include Double Gold Ingots, Pearl Tower, Falling Golden Fan and Diao Liu’s etc.
Yangzhou Tanci performance is classified into the solo and chorus. The solo refers to talking and singing by one and accompanied by a three-stringed plucked instrument, while the chorus refers to musical dialogue in antiphonal style by two and accompanied by three-stringed plucked instrument and pipa.
The performance of Yangzhou Tanci is dominated by talking and supplemented by singing while playing a stringed instrument. Yangzhou dialect is mostly used for talking and expressing, therefore “the dock wording” is usually used to distinguish and describe figures when the roles start to perform. Yangzhou Tanci is particular about clear articulation, a mellow and full tune to performers, and the charming intonation.
