Hui Minli is an inheritor of Qinqiang Opera, one of the items of China's national intangible cultural heritage, and widely considered the most popular form of traditional opera in northwestern China, particularly in Shaanxi Province. Hui in 2009 became the first woman head of Yisushe, one of the oldest art troupes in China. During the past four decades, she has devoted herself to performing, promoting and developing — innovatively — Qinqiang Opera.

Budding Performer

Hui was born in Huangling, a county in Yan'an, a city in Shaanxi Province, in 1971. Influenced by her father, she began developing an interest in Qinqiang Opera when she was 5. She was captivated by the performers' exquisite costumes, pretty makeup and vivid performances. Hui enrolled in Huangling Opera School, in Huangling County, in 1982. Three years later, she was admitted to Yan'an branch of Shaanxi Art School, in Yan'an. She went all out, day and night, to practice the basic skills, even though the work load was challenging. Given her hard work, she made continuous progress, especially in her performing skills, and she was able to perform various kinds of dan roles (women's characters). 

In 1989, Hui was recruited by Yisushe, a prestigious Qinqiang troupe, in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, because of her vivid performances and good command of the basic skills. At that time, the 18-year-old Hui vowed to be an artist, one who would make great contributions to society. Every day, before dawn, she practiced her singing and acting skills. "I am grateful I was able to learn from several renowned Qinqiang Opera masters. They taught me about the singing skills, as well as the gestures and eye expressions. Their instructions benefited me a lot, and I will enjoy the great benefit for the rest of my life," says Hui. 

In 1994, Hui performed Bai Suzhen, the lead role in the highlights of the classical Qinqiang show, Legend of the White Snake. Her acting skills, good-looking costume and makeup, and eye-catching performance wowed audiences. She made a name for herself within the Qinqiang Opera community. 

In 2009, Hui became head of Yisushe. She became the first woman to head the troupe, which has a history in excess of 100 years. Also in 2009, she won the xiqu performers award, during the Plum Performance Awards, which is the highest accolade for traditional Chinese theatrical art. 

In 2018, she received the Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Award. She has distinguished herself with her unique performing style. In addition to performing classical pieces, she has created several modern Qinqiang shows that reflect real life, and that extol the Party (Communist Party of China), the country and the people. These shows, including Party's Daughter, Model Worker Liu Xiyou, and Dream Weaver, have become popular. 

Promotion

In recent years, Hui has been committed to promoting Qinqiang Opera art. During past years, she has given lectures in universities, vocational and art schools, and primary and middle schools, across the country, to promote Qinqiang Opera art. She has also participated in cultural exchanges in other countries, including Japan, Malaysia and Australia, to promote the charm of Qinqiang Opera. 

On May 19, 2023, Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, invited the first ladies of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to visit Yisushe Theater, in Xi'an. The guests, Aigul Japarova, wife of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, wife of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, were in Xi'an for the China-Central Asia Summit. At the theater, Peng and her guests watched a classical Qinqiang performance, given by Hui and other performers. Peng and her guests applauded for that performance. 

In May 2024, Hui, with the China Theatre Association, was invited to visit Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, to participate in the Fourth Tbilisi Children Youth International Theatre Festival. During the festival, Hui gave a lecture on Chinese opera to local teenagers, during which the teenagers experienced Chinese opera with performers. The two-hour lecture highlighted the charm of Chinese opera, and it was praised by attendants. 

Innovation

As a deputy to the 13th and 14th Shaanxi Provincial People's Congresses, Hui has made several proposals, involving proposed legislation on the protection of Qinqiang Opera, since 2018. A regulation regarding the protection, inheritance and development of Qinqiang Opera art in Shaanxi Province was implemented on January 1, 2022. The regulation became the first provincial-level regulation on the protection of Chinese opera in China. Hui participated in the drafting and revision of the regulation. "Qinqiang is one of the oldest operas in China. The legislation played, and it will continue to play, a great role in protecting, inheriting, promoting and studying Qinqiang Opera art," Hui says. 

As an inheritor of Qinqiang Opera, Hui has done her best to pass the art form on to subsequent generations. She believes cultivation of talents is vital for traditional art. She has spared no effort in teaching performing skills to young performers, and in creating opportunities for those performers to perform on stage. "Under the instruction of Hui, I have mastered solid basic skills, and, more importantly, I have learned how to conduct myself well," says Wang Fengyun, one of Yisushe's young performers. 

Hui for many years has pondered ways to ensure Yisushe continues to thrive, and ways to ensure future generations continue to inherit and help Qinqiang Opera art flourish, especially in the new era. In 2016, Yisushe, a modern Qinqiang opera, which tells the history of Yisushe and the spirit of its performers, was put on stage for the first time. In September 2021, given Hui's efforts, Yisushe Cultural Block, the first Qinqiang-oriented cultural block in China, opened in Xi'an. The block, including Yisushe Theater, Yisushe Museum and Chinese Qinqiang Opera Art Museum, has since shared the history and charm of Qinqiang opera, in a comprehensive way. 

Throughout the years, Hui has dedicated herself to producing high-quality Qinqiang operas. Staging good shows is a principle she has always adhered to. Hui has led the troupe in producing several high-quality Qinqiang operas, based on both modern and traditional stories. The troupe has also staged performances in many venues, in more than 100 cities, across the country. More than 10 million viewers have watched the performances. 

To attract young viewers, Hui has led the troupe in producing a Qinqiang-themed immersive show. She has also supported the production of animated series, with Qinqiang Opera themes, and those shows have appealed to children and teenagers. Yisushe Museum has also conducted hundreds of activities, attended by thousands of students, of different ages, both from home and abroad. 

"In the future, we will make all-out efforts to protect, inherit and develop Qinqiang Opera art, and we will produce more high-quality works, worthy of the times, to help Qinqiang Opera thrive in the new era," says Hui.

Photos from Interviewee

(Women of China English Monthly December 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha