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The Transmission Lineage of Sai Opera in Tanyin Village, Shexian


Author: Xiaoyu Song, Jinqiu Dong*, and Shi Yin*
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071001, China.
Published Date: 2026-07-29
Keywords: Tanyin Sai Opera; transmission lineage; intangible cultural heritage; Tang family.
Abstract:

The Sai Opera of Tanyin Village in She County is an important component of the national intangible cultural heritage project "Handan Sai Opera." Based on fieldwork and documentary research, this paper takes the transmission lineage of Tanyin Village's Sai Opera as its subject, tracing its historical origins and developmental trajectory, examining the continuity of the Tang family's artistic tradition, and exploring the reconstruction and evolution of the transmission lineage following the intervention of intangible cultural heritage protection policies. The transmission lineage of Tanyin Village's Sai Opera is a product shaped by the interplay of familial craftsmanship, village society, and state institutions. Its continuation relies not only on the oral transmission and personal instruction within the Tang family but also on the ritual support provided by Tanyin Society as the primary temple dedicated to Nüwa. With the introduction of intangible cultural heritage protection systems, the agents of transmission have shifted from natural family succession to institutional recognition, the space of transmission has expanded from within the village to broader public domains, and the audience has extended to include youth and female groups. At the same time, the transmission lineage faces practical challenges such as aging practitioners, changes in cultural ecology, and the individualization of transmission agents, reflecting the complex landscape of ritual-based traditional theater adapting to contemporary social transformation.