Ancient Tibetan opera strikes a chord with youth

As the annual Shoton Festival commenced on Wednesday, the vibrant sounds of Tibetan opera captivated a surprisingly youthful audience in Norbulingka Park, Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region.

Tibetan opera appreciated by crowds in Norbulingka Park

Tibetan opera, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in China in 2006 and added to UNESCO's representative list in 2009, continues to enchant audiences with its rich traditions and artistic depth.

In Norbulingka, a sea of young faces eagerly captured the dramatic performances on their smartphones and cameras. The thunderous drums and high-pitched chants echoed through the park, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

People of all ages gather together, immersing themselves in the charm of time-honored Tibetan opera

Huang Wen, a 27-year-old amateur cultural photographer from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was among those documenting the event. Despite having watched Tibetan opera many times, he remains fascinated. "Even after seeing it a couple of times, the passion under those colorful masks never fails to thrill me," he said. "Every performance reveals new artistic depth."

Nearby, Li Jiahao, an 18-year-old on his first solo journey to the plateau region, was captivated by the universal themes of heroism and justice, despite not understanding the Tibetan language. "In the fast-paced digital era, this authentic artistic expression touches your soul in a way instant entertainment rarely can," Li said.

Tibetan opera artists deliver a vivid onstage performance with traditional masks and costumes

Pema, a veteran performer and national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor, observed the youthful enthusiasm both in the audience and among the performers. "Seventeen out of 25 in our troupe are young performers," Pema explained with pride. "Youth are no longer just watching from the sidelines - they truly participate in passing down our tradition by learning the stage techniques."

The appeal of Tibetan opera extends beyond the stage, amplified by short videos and live streaming on social media platforms. A trailer of Tibetan opera at this year's Shoton Festival, posted on Douyin on August 7, garnered over 4,000 likes, with viewers expressing excitement and anticipation in the comments section.

In Hubei province, thousands of miles away, 23-year-old Wang Hanchi watched video clips of the Shoton Festival in Norbulingka. "It's eye-opening for me to see vloggers introduce the hidden meanings behind the sacred mask colors and sample the soaring vocals," Wang said. "The video made me feel as if I were at the spot, inspiring me to visit Norbulingka in person one day."

Tibetan opera performers present exquisite traditional singing and dancing

The vitality of this ancient art is sustained by its growing popularity among youth, both in person and online, ensuring its living inheritance. Tibetan opera demonstrates that when cultural heritage truly touches human hearts, its centuries-old rhythm can bridge any distance and resonate far into the future.

文字 | 厉杰霞、郭雨荷

图片 | 厉杰霞、郭雨荷

排版 | 郭雨荷