Interview: Juemulong Tibetan Opera, living legacy of Tibetan culture

High in the mystical plateau of southwest China lies the cradle of the enigmatic Tibetan culture, where the Juemulong Tibetan Opera continues to thrive as a testament to the region’s rich heritage. This centuries-old art form, known as Ache Lhamo, is celebrated as the “living fossil” of Tibetan culture, embodying a unique blend of drama, music, literature, and dance. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage representative project, Tibetan opera is one of the oldest and most revered theatrical traditions in China.

Tibetan opera performances generally consist of three parts: an opening ritual to honor the gods, the main play showcasing skilled acting, and a concluding ceremony of blessings and good wishes. According to a local performer, “In the opening ritual of our Tibetan opera, including all the eight major operas, we first perform by wearing this blue Wenba mask. In other genres, they wear a white Wenba mask.”

Among the various Tibetan opera troupes and genres, the Juemulong Tibetan Opera, originating from the Juemulong area, holds significant influence. Developed by the renowned Tibetan opera artist Aji Dangsang (1850-1916) in the late 19th to early 20th century, this branch of the Blue Mask Tibetan Opera tradition has rapidly developed and achieved remarkable artistic accomplishments. Its influence extends to Tibetan-inhabited areas in Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan.

Losang Tashi, a prominent figure in Tibetan opera, explains, “Tibetan opera consists of two types: White Masks and Blue Masks. The Blue Mask Tibetan Opera is further divided into four major schools. In Lhasa, the only one is our Juemulong Tibetan Opera. In Xizang, about 85% of the 154 professional Tibetan opera troupes inherited from the Juemulong Tibetan Opera tradition.”

The Juemulong Tibetan Opera Troupe, guided by national intangible cultural heritage inheritor Danda, formed a new 20-member troupe around 2000 to save it from extinction. As Danda ages, the daily training and management of the troupe are now primarily overseen by Losang Tashi, an outstanding young Tibetan opera performer and regional inheritor named the regional representative inheritor of Lhasa Juemulong Tibetan Opera in 2014. Losang Tashi is dedicated to the succession of Tibetan opera, training younger generations of actors.

“Our current actors are around thirty in number, mostly aged 27 or 28, but in a few decades, they will age. Our traditional culture must be passed down. We've already taught several students in our new academy. In our troupe, we must recruit the youngest members. By doing so, our historical culture can continue to develop. My own child, at eight years old, is the youngest actor in the troupe and can already perform minor roles in the operas,” says Losang Tashi.

A young actor in the Juemulong Tibetan Opera shares, “I’ve been exposed to Tibetan opera since I was in kindergarten. My love for Tibetan opera has always made me worry that our traditional culture might disappear. What I enjoy most are the costumes of the actors.”

The Juemulong Tibetan Opera, a national intangible cultural heritage project, continues to be passed down and developed through the efforts of generations of inheritors, writing a glorious chapter in Tibetan culture.

Video Editor: Luo Zixuan (Intern)