Yuju Opera, also called Henan Bangzi Opera, Ou Opera and Tubang Opera, is one of the most popular local operas all over the country. Its earliest written record can be traced back more than 200 years. At the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the opera became widespread across Henan Province. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, it experienced rapid growth -- not only in the villages and cities of Henan Province but also throughout the country, including Taiwan, Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Shanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces, etc. Until the mid-1980s, Yuju Opera was the leading local opera genre in terms of the number of performers, troupes and audiences among the other 300 local Chinese operas.
Yuju Opera also boasts many different genres, including Xiangfu, Yudong, Shahe and Yuxi arias. Leading Yuju operas artists include the "Five Great Female Role Performers" (Chang Xiangyu, Chen Suzhen, Cu Lantian, Ma Jinfeng and Yan Lipin) representing five major styles of the art form.
