2013 Traditional Opera Art Festival: Earth Buildings Reveal Hakka Charm

 

The 2013 Traditional Opera Art Festival, with the theme “Conveying Emotions in the Mountain City – Art Encounters Happiness,” will feature not only top local traditional opera groups but also a special performance by the “Yongding Hakka Earth Building Art Troupe” from Fujian. From March 15 to 17, 2013 (Year 102 in the Republic of China calendar), they will stage the large-scale original eco-Hakka cultural song and dance performance “Earth Building Charm” at the Miaoli County Dome Stadium.

Fujian earth buildings are a unique architectural marvel in the world. Renowned for their long history, diverse forms, grand scale, ingenious structure, comprehensive functionality, and rich cultural connotations, they are also a special product of the Hakka people who, after migrating from the Yellow River basin to Yongding, further developed the ancient Central Plains earthen building techniques. Yongding County is the birthplace and main region of the Fujian Earth Buildings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Fujian Province’s “Eight Major Tourism Brands.” There are over 20,000 existing Hakka earth buildings in Yongding, accounting for more than 70% of all Fujian earth buildings. Among the “six groups and four buildings” of Fujian earth buildings inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, Yongding includes “three groups and two buildings.” Major Hakka earth building clusters in Yongding include the Hongkeng Cluster, Nanxi Cluster, Gaobei Cluster, and Chuxi Cluster, among others.

“Earth Building Charm” centers on the historical development of Hakka earth buildings and portrays the lifestyle and folk customs of the Yongding Hakka people through various artistic forms such as graceful song and dance, vivid scene reenactments, authentic Hakka mountain songs, and outstanding Hakka folk musical performances. The show is divided into four major acts: “Pioneering Hardships,” “Axe Opening the Heavens,” “Hakka Elegance,” and “Fame Across the Seas.” It reflects the epic struggles and pioneering spirit of the Hakka ancestors as they built earth buildings in the mountainous regions of western Fujian, recreating their arduous history through performing arts.

 

Tickets for this performance are distributed via a ticket request system. Ticket requests will be accepted starting at 8:00 AM on March 2 and March 3, 2013 (Year 102), at the west entrance of the Dome Stadium. Each person may request up to 4 tickets, and quantities are limited—first come, first served. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the show together.

 

 

● Read More: Ancient Rituals and Folk Performances – Miaoli County’s Hakka Tianguan Festival Begins March 1

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