每日英語跟讀 Ep.K571: Ming Hwa Yuan Troupe: A Century of Taiwanese Opera Tradition
Ming Hwa Yuan, a Taiwanese opera troupe, was founded in 1929 by Chen Ming-chi, who had joined a different opera troupe at the age of thirteen after leaving school to support his family. Chen was convinced by an actor in the troupe to join them and even ran away from home to pursue his passion. Five years later, he started his own troupe, which eventually became the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group. Despite ups and downs over the years, the group remains a prestigious opera company in Taiwan today, with nine independent companies. Chen's son, Chen Sheng-fu, managed the troupe after his father's death and modernized the company into a successful performing arts empire, which tours Taiwan and the world to keep traditional Taiwanese opera relevant.
明華園劇團是由陳明吉於1929年創立的，當時他在13歲時離開學校支持家庭後加入了另一個戲曲劇團。陳明基被劇團中的演員說服加入，甚至為了追求自己的熱情而離家出走。五年後，他創立了自己的劇團，最終成為了明華園藝文集團。儘管多年來經歷了起起伏伏，但該團仍然是台灣一個聲譽卓著的戲曲公司，擁有九家獨立的劇團。陳明基的兒子陳勝福在父親去世後管理了該團，並將該公司現代化成為一個成功的表演藝術帝國，巡迴演出台灣和全世界，以保持傳統的台灣戲曲。
Taiwanese opera emerged in the late 19th century, influenced by various Chinese opera styles. It is one of the few Han artforms that developed locally and was easy for common folk to understand. The popularity of Taiwanese opera soared in just two decades; by 1928, it had become the preferred theatrical style over Beijing, Baizi, and other Chinese styles. Taiwanese opera was initially criticized by intellectuals for promoting bad morals, but they couldn't stop its popularity. Japanese imperialization banned everything Taiwanese and Chinese under their assimilation policy in the late 1930s, which put a halt to the shows.
台灣戲曲起源於19世紀末，受到各種中國戲曲風格的影響。它是少數漢族藝術形式之一，且容易為普羅大眾所理解。台灣戲曲的普及在短短的二十年間飆升；到了1928年，它已經成為比京劇、白字戲和其他中國風格更受歡迎的劇場風格。台灣戲曲最初因宣揚不良道德而受到知識分子的批評，但他們無法阻止它的流行。在日本帝國主義者在20世紀30年代末的同化政策下，禁止了一切台灣和中國文化，這使得戲曲表演停止了。
After World War II, the Chinese Nationalist Party allowed Taiwanese opera to flourish again, leading to the establishment of hundreds of Taiwanese opera groups. The Taiwan Provincial Local Theater Association boasted more than 300 opera companies when it was established in 1952. Despite the challenges of the past, the tradition of Taiwanese opera has been preserved by groups like Ming Hwa Yuan, which has been passed down from generation to generation.
二戰結束後，中國國民黨允許台灣戲曲重新興起，並帶動了數百個台灣戲曲團體的建立。1952年成立的台灣省地方劇協會當時已有超過300個戲曲團體。儘管過去有許多挑戰，但台灣戲曲的傳統仍然被像明華園這樣的團體代代相傳，並得以保存。
Ming Hwa Yuan continues to promote Taiwanese opera in Taiwan and the world by touring and performing. The troupe has remained a powerful and prestigious force, keeping the traditional art form alive and relevant. Taiwanese opera may have faced many obstacles over the years, but it has also proven to be resilient. The continuation of the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group shows how, despite the difficulties, traditional art forms can continue to thrive.
明華園在台灣及全球進行巡迴演出，繼續推廣台灣戲曲。該團體一直是強大而傑出的力量，使得這種傳統藝術形式保持著生命力和相關性。台灣戲曲可能在過去面臨許多障礙，但也證明了其具有韌性。明華園文化藝術團的延續展示了，傳統藝術形式儘管面臨困難，仍能繼續繁榮。
Reference article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2023/05/07/2003799303