Peking Opera supporters raise Pear Garden Patriarch’s gown ceremony

To celebrate the birthday of the Emperor Ming of Tang - the legendary founder of Peking opera - on March 18, the Peking Opera Association (中華民國國劇協會) raised “Changing of the Patriarch’s Gown Ceremony（祖師爺換袍儀式）” at the Guoguang Performing Art’s Center (國光劇團演藝中心).

A number of people employed in the Peking opera scene came to offer birthday congratulations, old and young alike, lighting incense to offer their heartfelt wishes. Birthday buns and noodles – symbolizing longevity - were handed out to participants in order to celebrate the joyous occasion. The Emperor Ming of Tang established an arts hub known as the Pear Garden (梨園), where performers were given accommodation and performed; this greatly helped the development and spread of Peking opera.

Due to this, the Emperor Ming of Tang is affectionately dubbed the ‘Pear Garden Patriarch,’ and highly esteemed in the hearts of those involved in Peking opera. It is hoped that through such ceremonies the Pear Garden Patriarch will protect traditional Peking opera for posterity.

PeoPo 公民新聞 by 世新Online

Peking Opera supporters raise Pear Garden Patriarch’s gown ceremony
URL:http://www.peopo.org/news/112030

(以下是中文對照)
祖師誕辰換袍大典 梨園弟子慎重傳承

照片

農曆三月十八日，是梨園祖師唐明皇的誕辰，中華民國國劇協會就在國光劇團演藝中心，舉行「祖師爺換袍儀式」，許多國劇從業人員都到場參加，為祖師爺祝壽。典禮現場，也邀請了許多老前輩回來共襄盛舉，許多晚輩也誠心上香為祖師爺祝壽，現場更準備了壽桃壽麵，讓大家一同分享祖師爺誕辰的喜悅。唐明皇因為將戲曲演員招集在梨園住宿、表演，才能讓戲曲得以流傳與發展，也因此被稱為梨園祖師，唐明皇在戲曲演員心中有著崇高的重要性，也希望能透過祝壽及換袍的儀式，讓祖師爺保佑傳統戲曲能永久流傳。