Kunqu is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theater from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Kunqu boasts a 600-year history and is known as the "teacher" or "mother" of a hundred operas, because of its influence on other Chinese opera forms, including Peking Opera. Its emergence ushered in the second Golden Era of Chinese drama, but by the early 20th century it had nearly disappeared.

One of the major literary forms of the Ming and Qing dynasties was Chuanqi drama, originating from the South. Plays that continue to be famous today, including The Peony Pavilion and The Peach Blossom Fan, were originally written for the Kunqu stage.

Today, Kunqu is performed professionally in seven cities on the Chinese mainland: Beijing (Northern Kunqu Theater), Shanghai (Shanghai Kunqu Theater), Suzhou (Suzhou Kunqu Theater), Nanjing (Jiangsu Provincial Kunqu Theater), Chenzhou (Hunan Kunqu Theater), Yongjia County/Wenzhou (Yongjia Kunqu Theater) and Hangzhou (Zhejiang Provincial Kunqu Theater), as well as in Taipei. Non-professional opera societies are active in many other cities in China and abroad, and opera companies occasionally tour.

Kunqu opera was listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001. Its melody or tune is one of the Four Great Characteristic Melodies in Chinese opera.

In 1998, The Peony Pavilion was made into opera by Tan Dun, and directed by both Peter Sellars and Chen Shizheng. It played primarily abroad, often winning critical success but offending traditionalists.

Adapted by Taiwan writer Bai Xianyong, a "Young Lovers" version of The Peony Pavilion has been touring China since 2004. The production made its US premiere, the first performance outside of Asia, at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, California, September 15-17, 2006.

(China Daily May 17, 2007)