Transmission of Shangqiu Siping Diao through Chinese Opera Education for Cultural Sustainability

Abstract

In the face of rapid modernization and declining public engagement, Shangqiu Siping Diao—an endangered regional opera tradition in Henan Province, China—has experienced critical challenges to its continuity. This study aims to investigate the transmission of Shangqiu Siping Diao through Chinese opera education in order to promote cultural sustainability. Conducted in Liangyuan District, Shangqiu City, where the Siping Diao Theatre Troupe and Art Research Centre are located, the research employed a qualitative methodology grounded in ethnomusicology and arts education. Seven informants were purposively selected, including three key informants who are nationally recognized opera masters and four general informants who are young students or performers engaged in formal training. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis, then analyzed thematically to identify educational strategies and their cultural impact. Results reveal a three-phase developmental trajectory: promotion (2006–2011), innovation (2012–2021), and stabilization (2022–2025), demonstrating how educational integration has revitalized this art form. Initiatives such as school-based opera creation, incorporation of representative repertoires like Lv Meng Zheng Gan Zhai, and community outreach performances have enabled generational transmission and fostered cultural identity among youth. The study suggests that combining traditional pedagogy with digital media and public engagement strengthens cultural sustainability. This model may be applied to other regional operas facing similar threats.