Structural transformation and cultural sustainability of Tui Opera in contemporary China

Information from the abstract

This study examines the structural transformation and cultural sustainability of Tui Opera, a traditional folk performance in Anhui Province, China, within the context of contemporary social change and digital media environments. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data collected from 175 stakeholders including artists, general audiences, and youth analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), with qualitative insights obtained through semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants. The findings reveal four interrelated structural challenges: (1) audience decline and shifting demographic patterns, (2) a crisis in cultural transmission and the shortage of successors, (3) the transformation of cultural functions from community-based social practice to stage-oriented performance, and (4) adaptation to digital media and platform-based culture. These dimensions do not operate independently; rather, they constitute a dynamic system characterized by feedback mechanisms, in which changes in audience behavior, transmission processes, cultural functions, and media environments mutually reinforce one another over time. While digital media enhance visibility and accessibility, platform constraints simultaneously reshape content structures and modes of presentation, generating tensions between accessibility and cultural authenticity. In addition, the findings highlight the increasing influence of digital consumption patterns and generational shifts on audience engagement. Nevertheless, the study demonstrates that Tui Opera retains adaptive capacity, particularly through media integration and performance innovation. It is argued that the sustainability of Tui Opera cannot be achieved through static preservation alone but requires a dynamic balance between maintaining cultural identity and adapting to contemporary contexts. This study contributes to the literature on cultural sustainability by providing an empirical and systemic perspective on the transformation of traditional performing arts in the digital era.

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Related topics: Theatre and Performance Studies · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Arts and Performance Studies