Tibetan opera is known as "Lhamo" in the Tibetan language, which means "Sister Fairy". It is made up of songs, dances, chants, and drama that tell stories. It uses a lot of repertoires from Buddhist teachings and Tibetan history. Folk opera is very popular in Tibet, especially in Lhasa, Lhokha, Shigatse, and Chamdo, as well as nearby provinces such as Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai.
In contrast to the few other folk operas of Chinese ethnic minorities, Tibetan opera has the longest history. According to Tibetan records, the Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo greatly admired Tang Dynasty costumes, music, and dancing. When Princess Wencheng introduced Tang Dynasty costumes, music, and dancing to Tibet, Songtsan Gambo greatly admired them. To entertain the princess, he organized for 16 talented girls to be trained in a form of Chinese music and dance incorporating Tibetan folklore and Tang styles. Through the ages, this entertainment has evolved into a more clearly defined form of dancing and singing.
Such performances gradually developed into Tibetan Opera and became extremely popular throughout Tibet. It was very popular at the beginning of the 17th century, with a long list of excellent players and traditional repertoires. Different genres evolved, each with its style. These performances were held during various festivals. For example, the Shoton Festival, once a religious festival, evolved into a joint performance of Tibetan Opera. As part of this festive occasion, many professional and amateur groups were invited to Lhasa to entertain the Dalai Lama and his devotees.
Popular in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in western China, this performance begins with a prayer ceremony, in which hunters cleanse the stage and an elder gives blessings. The second part of the opera consists of a drama that has a single speaker and is performed by a chorus of singers, dancers, and acrobats. Masks and simple makeup are worn by the actors in this performance. It is common for performances to take place in public squares or temples (or, these days, on stages), with a tree marked in the center by a basin of purified water and theatrical props surrounded by colored paper.
Tibetan opera is a valuable cultural content of Tibetan social life. Based on Buddhist teachings, the stories told in Tibetan opera portray the triumph of the good and punishment of the evil to serve as social teachings for the community. This multifaceted representation of Tibetan art and culture also serves to foster ethnic unity and pride among Tibetans throughout the country.
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