Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera (Second Batch of Provincial Level) Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera, commonly known as "Tea Lantern Opera" or "Tea Opera", first appeared in its early form in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In the late Ming Dynasty, the lanterns popular in Jiujiang and Ruichang were combined with the tea lantern opera in Qianshan, Gandong, which was introduced into Jiujiang, to form the tea lantern opera in northern Jiangxi. During the Qianlong period, the tea lantern opera was combined with the Huangmei tea picking tune popular in northern Jiangxi. After entering the half-term class, it gradually formed a local opera with the most distinctive characteristics in northern Jiangxi. When compiling the Jiangxi Volume of the Opera Records in the mid-1980s, it was named "Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera". Page 146 of the Encyclopedia of China (Opera, Quyi) affirmed the title of "Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera". Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera is known for its simplicity and popularity. Because of its fresh tunes and sweet charm, it is known as "glutinous rice tea picking" and is deeply loved by the local people. The opera is divided into two major schools, Nanhe and Beihe. Our county belongs to the Nanhe school, and the music belongs to the "Daluo tune system". Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera has a long history in our county and is widely spread. Purely folk performance groups are spread across all towns and villages in the county. Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera was gradually formed in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In the late Ming Dynasty, the lanterns popular in Jiujiang and Ruichang were combined with the tea lantern opera in Qianshan County, eastern Jiangxi, which was introduced into Jiujiang, forming the tea lantern opera in northern Jiangxi. During the Qianlong period, the tea lantern opera was combined with the Huangmei tea picking tune popular in northern Jiangxi. After entering the semi-class, it gradually formed a local opera with the most distinctive characteristics in northern Jiangxi. Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera, as a unique opera in northern Jiangxi, is widely popular in Jiujiang County, and many tea picking opera troupes have emerged among the people. For example: Lijia Zhaban, Daishanban, Xintang Dengjiaban, etc. Among them, the Lijia Zha Tea Picking Opera Troupe of the Li family of Yongquan Tielu is the most representative. Since the end of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, according to the customs of the clan, the tea basket lanterns are welcomed every eight years, and the tea picking opera must be performed during the Lantern Festival. Therefore, if there are more than two brothers in a family, one of them must learn the opera since childhood. According to the living old artist Li Pingmu (1927-), the first master of the tea picking opera in the clan that he can trace back to is Li Dianquan, who was born in the Xianfeng period (died in the Republic of China). From Li Dianquan, there are five generations of inheritance, including Li Dianhuo, Li Tengying, Li Pingmu, Li Feihuan, Li Pingdong and Li Hanyi, with a long history. Tea picking opera artists from the neighboring Ruichang, such as Yang Kaiqian, Yang Nengmei, Deng Jianxue and Zhou Pingzhao, have come to the Lijiazha Opera Troupe to learn the art and play roles. In 1946, they formed a large opera troupe with the masters of the clan and performed on the same stage in Huangmei, Guangji, Qizhou in Hubei, Jiujiang, Xingzi, De'an, Duchang and Ruichang in Jiangxi. The performances of Jiujiang Tea Picking Opera reached its peak.