Structure Type: Opera stage 戲台.
Location: Lower Flat Valley Village, Yu County, Hebei Province 河北省蔚縣下平油村. (Locals tell me that you 油 “oil” represents the local pronunciation of yu 峪 “valley,” which makes more sense than “lower flat oil.”) The old fort was originally strung out along the top of the hilltop here. The opera stage is located at the bottom of the hill, facing up towards a now-ruined Temple of the Goddesses 娘娘廟 that stood just outside of the old walls.
Period: Undated, early 20th Century. I’m judging here from style and from the stage graffiti, which is copious but seems to begin in the 1920s.
Artist: Unknown.
Mural Contents: There are basically two main opera stage mural topics in Yu County. One is architectural drawings or “portico pictures”, and the other is this type of screen image, with or without actors peaking out. This forms a sort of trompe-l’œil scene background to the performances.
Highlight Gallery
Full Gallery
