K'UN-CH'

Pinyin kunqu form of Chinese drama that was developed in the 16th century. K'un-ch' was essentially the ch'uan-ch'i (Pinyin chuanqi) form set to a new type of music. The word was originally given to the style of music, which was created by Wei Liang-fu of K'un-shan (near Su-chou), but it was soon applied to the dramatic form as well. Important k'un-ch' dramatists were T'ang Hsien-tsu, who was noted for the delicate sensitivity of his poetry; Shen Ching, who excelled in versification; and Li Y, known for his effective theatrical pieces. K'un-ch' began as a genuinely popular operatic form. It was welcomed by audiences in Peking (Beijing) in the 1600s, and it became the predominant ch'uan-ch'i form through the end of the 18th century. It had, however, turned into a theatre of the literati, its poetic form too esoteric and its music too refined for the common audience. It was gradually replaced in popularity by ching-hsi (Pinyin jingxi), or Peking opera.