Page 58 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Shan-Shaan Guild Hall on Great Tea Route

A B C

Figure 10. The theater at the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall. (A) Photograph of the theater building in 1984, showing the north side enclosed by a wall and
featuring a staircase. Source: Photo by the Editorial Committee of the Henan Volume of the Chinese Opera Journal); (B) Photograph of the theater’s sink,
used for face washing and fire protection. Source: Photo by Yixin Wang (2022); (C) Photograph of the theater’s drainage system. Source: Photo by Yixin
Wang (2022).

Guild Hall, became a convergence point for various as a form of punishment when someone broke trade
religious and folk beliefs. The Shanxi-Shaanxi merchants rules—turning such events into communal entertainment
brought with them the worship of Guan Gong, while the (Chu & Ma, 2021).
movement of people along the Great Tea Route facilitated As early as in the 12 year of the Republic of China (1923),
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the spread of diverse religious traditions, such as Daoism, local merchants, many of whom were noodle sellers, organized
Buddhism, and Islam, in Jia County. a Bangzi Opera (梆子戏) troupe. According to interviews
16
5.2.3. Food culture with a local restaurant manager, this troupe performed on
the Riverbank in front of the guild hall on specific dates: the
Food, as an element of intangible cultural heritage, reflects 7 and 13 days of March, the 3 day of August, the 10 day
th
rd
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not only the lifestyle of a region but also its agricultural of October, and during the Spring Festival temple fair. The
practices and cultural depth. One of the most famous audience was free to decide how much they wished to tip the
traditional dishes in Jia County is heluo noodles (饸饹面), performers. These performances are consistent with historical
which are heavily influenced by the eating habits of people records, such as the County annals, which states:
from Shaanxi Province. These noodles are quick and easy to
prepare and suited to the fast-paced schedules of traveling “Since 1948, Chengguan Town has held temple fairs on
rd
th
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merchants. In addition, they are reputed to alleviate hangovers the 3 day of February, the 7 day of March, the 15 day
rd
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and soothe the stomach, making them a preferred choice for of April, the 3 day of August, and the 10 day of October
businessmen recovering from social gatherings. Another every year.” (Jia County Local Historiography Compilation
staple of the local food culture is guokui (锅盔), a pot-lid- Committee, 1996, pp. 357-358)
shaped bun known for its durability and ease of transport – In addition to the merchant-organized troupe, a doll
qualities highly valued by merchants on the move. troupe (娃娃戏班), from Xiping County, performed in Jia
County in the 20 year of the Republic of China (1931).
th
5.2.4. Opera culture The actors and actresses of this troupe stayed in the Shanxi-
Henan Province of China once had nearly 3,500 traditional Shaanxi Guild Hall and were hosted by local residents, who
theater buildings, but only about 100 remain – a mere third provided them with meals (Editorial Board of Chinese
of the number existed in the 1980s, as many have been Opera Records, 1992).
destroyed over time. These theater buildings are significant This article combines archival research, field research,
not only as examples of historical Chinese architecture and oral history to provide an in-depth exploration of the
but also as vital carriers of Chinese opera culture. The
most magnificent Qing-dynasty theaters in Henan were 16 Leveraging the extensive networks of Shanxi-Shaanxi
typically located within association/guild halls, reflecting merchants conducting business across the country,
the financial prosperity of merchants who could afford opera performances held in guild halls gradually spread
to construct exquisite and majestic venues (Xue, 2007). nationwide. Through these perfomances, local arts
The well-preserved and intricately designed theater at the mingled and converged with traveling troupes, leading to
Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall in Jia County is particularly the development of distinct regional opera styles such as
valuable in this context (Figure 10). Henan Bangzi, Hebei Bangzi, and Shandong Bangzi (Chen,
2018). Some scholars argue that Henan Yu Opera originated
Merchants frequently invited actors to perform at the during the Qianlong era, evolving from the Bangzi operas
Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall for various occasions, including as they blended with the local operatic traidtions in Henan
opening ceremonies, worship rituals, birthdays, and even (Song, 2006).

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4582