苏州昆班考

A view of the history of Kunqu Opera Troupes in Suzhou

明清以来 ,昆曲戏班以苏州为中心向全国传播 ,形成了“四方歌者皆宗吴门”的局面。明代万历年间 ,苏州“上三班”以申时行家班最为出色。清代康熙年间 ,苏州的昆班多达千数。乾隆时 ,苏州织造府管辖的老郎庙内设立梨园总局 ,出现了昆班艺人的行会组织。晚清以来 ,姑苏四大昆班活跃在江南城乡的舞台上 ,其中全福班在道光七年和光绪二年曾两次远征山西演出。而 192 1年苏州“昆剧传习所”的成立 ,则使昆剧人才传承到新中国建立以后 ,得以培养出各地昆曲剧团的大批新人 ,继承发扬 ,昆史流芳 !

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties,Kunqu theatrical troupes developed from Suzhou to many parts of the country,resulting in a siutation that “all(Kunqu)opera singers originated from the Wu School(in Suzhou)”. During the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty,the Shen Shixing Kunqu Opera Troupe was the most outstanding of the Shangsan Troupes.During the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasry,there were as many as a thousand Kunqu Opera Troupes in Suzhou.The Qianlong Period of the same dynasty saw the establishment of the Liyuan General Association,a trade organization of Kunqu Opera actors,at a place under the jurisdiction of the Suzhou Weaving Management Bureau.In the late years of the Qing Dynasty,Suzhou's four major Kunqu Opera troupes were still active on the stages of towns and rural areas.One of the four,i.e.the Quanfu Troupe traveled twice to Shanxi in the 7 th year of the Daoguang Period and the 2 nd year of the Guangxu Period.The founding of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera School in 1921 made it possible for the traditional art to be passed onto a new generation of the New China.It trained large numbers of Kunqu actors for troupes in different parts of the country and contributed a great deal to preserving the traditional form of art.