Kunqu, also known as Kunqiang, Kunshanqiang and Kunju, is a new type of opera that was developed in Kunshan area in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, and combined with local music, singing, dancing and language. In the early Ming Dynasty, "Kunshanqiang" was formed in Kunshan area. After the innovation of Wei Liangfu and others during the Jiajing period, Kunshanqiang absorbed the strengths of northern opera, Haiyanqiang and Yiyangqiang, forming a "water-grinding tune" style that is euphemistic, delicate, and lingering. Kunqu was basically formed at this point. Liang Chenyu put the legend "Huansha Ji" on the stage in the form of Kunqu, which made Kunqu, which was originally mainly used for singing, officially enter the field of drama performance and further expanded its influence. During the Wanli period, Kunqu gradually spread from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to all parts of the country. The more than 100 years from the early years of Tianqi in the Ming Dynasty to the end of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty was a period of prosperity for Kunqu. After the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Kunqu gradually declined. Since the founding of New China, Kunqu art has seen a turnaround, and the country has successively established 7 professional Kunqu troupes with independent structures. At present, Kunqu is mainly performed by professional Kunqu troupes, and related performances are mostly concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Hunan and other places. Kunqu is a highly literati art. Many playwrights who were engaged in the creation of Kunqu repertoires in the Ming and Qing dynasties achieved high literary achievements. "Pipa Ji", "Peony Pavilion", "Changsheng Palace", "Mingfeng Ji", "Yu Zan Ji", "Hongli Ji", "Water Margin Ji", "Lan Ke Shan", "Fifteen Strings of Cash" and other representative repertoires of Kunqu, among which the first three have complete or nearly complete gongche notations preserved. After the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Kunqu was mainly performed in the form of excerpts, and more than 400 Kunqu excerpts have been preserved to this day. New repertoires of Kunqu include "Southern Tang Relics", "Puppet Records", "Sima Xiangru", "Ban Zhao" and so on. After long-term stage practice, Kunqu has achieved high achievements in performing arts, with highly integrated performance methods such as singing, dancing, introduction and dialogue. With the comprehensive development of performing arts, the roles of Kunqu opera have become more and more specialized. The main roles include Laosheng, Xiaosheng, Dan, Tie, Laodan, Wai, Mo, Jing, Fu, Chou, etc. Each role has formed certain procedures and skills in the performance, which has had an important impact on the formation and development of Peking opera and other local operas. The melody of Kunqu music is beautiful and elegant, and the singing skills are standardized and mature. The wide application of Zengban, the pronunciation of the word head, belly and tail, and the flowing and distant artistic style have made Kunqu music achieve the artistic effect of "graceful and charming, one singing and three sighs". Kunqu has a long history and a wide and far-reaching influence. It is the crystallization of traditional culture and a model of opera performance. Kunqu art form is exquisite and profound. Due to its unique cultural value, it was selected as the first batch of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2001. In the late Qing Dynasty, Kunqu gradually declined. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was revived for a time. In recent years, with the decline of traditional opera performances in cities, Kunqu is facing a dilemma of survival, and the number of actors and audiences is shrinking. If Kunqu Opera is to survive and develop, there are many urgent issues that need to be resolved.