Fuzhou has been enjoying the honor of “Hometown of Drama” which took its place in Jiangxi drama field, even Chinese drama development history. In the 5th year of Chunhua in Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 994), Jianchang County (Now called Nancheng County) has built “three faiths temple” stage for performance. Simultaneously, about 14-year-old teenagers called “Er’lang” appeared to perform in Fuzhou city on meeting idolatrous in autumn (The play rack was made up of wood, or old-fashioned eight-people square table, two or three teenagers dressed up the ancients sit idly in the play rack which composed a story. Four persons carried the play rack to parade in the streets.) Those plays were legends and history stories like “The Wen King Entrusts His Orphan”, “Princess Zhaojun Worships River”, “Attend the Banquet Alone”, and “Tattooing on Yue Fei” which have provided the personage model basis with story performance for the traditional opera formation.

　　In Yuan Dynasty, Poetic Drama has been introduced into Fuzhou City where the local actors performed it positively. A batch of high quality Poetic Drama actors appeared, Liu Poxi was the most famous among them, he was not only good at performing Poetic Drama, but also performing comic talk song and dance who took his place in East and South Jiangxi province. In Ming Dynasty, the local traditional Drama took form gradually and developed maturely which formed the first peak of traditional drama in Fuzhou city.

　　During Hongwu of Ming Dynasty (about A.D.1380), “Worship the Puppet Twice” appeared in Shiqidu of Yihuang County. On the 28th September, Hua Guang’s birthday, they must hold the ceremony with performance annually. One actor dressed up as Hua Guang, the other dressed up as the ugly ghost with mask, accompanied by gong and drum, wooden clapper and suona horn. The local people called “Worship the Puppet Twice” which has been the rudiment of “Pairs Drama” at early phrase.

　　During Yongle Era (about A.D. 1403-1424 ), Zengjia village Ganzhu town of Guangchang County had performed the story about Ms. Mengjinag which was called “Meng Drama” by the native people. The actors performed with the mask. They have set up the clan special play troupe which had complete performing form of traditional drama.

　　In the 8th year of Hongzhi (A.D. 1945) in Ming Dynasty, King Yiduan, who is the fourth son of Emperor Xianzong Zhu Jianshen, Zhu Youbin governed Jianchang County, who developed the local economy and culture. At that time, drama was flourishing. They built the drama temple and play in the east of County. On the 16th July every year, many theatrical troupes gather here to hold a memorial ceremony for the magical play that they sang inYiyang Aria.

　　In the 48th year of Jiajing (A.D. 1560) in Ming Dynasty, Tanlun, who was the Official of Zhejiang province, he returned and brought Zhejiang “Haiyan Aria” to hometown Yihuang County. They combined Zhejiang “Haiyan Ariat” with local aria to form the new aria which was called “Yihuang Aria”. The people of Linchuan, Nancheng, Nanfeng, Guangchang sang in Yihuang aria. Yihuang became the drama performance centre in the South of China in the 16th century with the formation and development of Yihuang drama.

　　In the 26th year of Wanli (A.D. 1598) in Ming Dynasty, Tang Xianzu abandoned official and returned to hometown to write dramas with great concentration in Yuming Hall. He had accomplished three plays in 3 years, namely, “The Peony Pavilion”, “Dream of Nanke”, “Dream of Handan” which have been called “Four Dreams of Linchuan” with “The Purple Hairpin”. His Yuming Hall had been “The Actor’s Home” which cultivated many excellent actors who were good at performing “Four Dreams of Linchuan” like Wang Youxin, Xu xi, Zhang Luo’er, Wu Ying, Nu Ning and Yu Cai. They performed in Jiangxi, even in Nanjing province that had made Fuzhou traditional drama flourishing and had far-reaching influence on development of Chinese traditional drama tremendously.

　　In Qing Dynasty, Kun opera and Qin opera and other operas were introduced into Fuzhou city consecutively. Yihuang opera formed the basic aria that took “two fans” as the main aria which combined with Qin opera aria. The accompaniment Huqin instrument has been changed into the principal instrument that formed the famous Huqin Aria (or “Two Huang” Aria”) which takes the important position in Chinese traditional opera history.

　　During Qianlong in Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1736- 1795), It appeared distinctive Fuhe Opera which took the high aria as the main with Kun aria and Yihuang Opera. Those theatrical troupes were well-equipped. The biggest theatrical troupe had more than 50 persons. During Tongzhi in Dynasty, Xipi Opera was introduced into Fuzhou, Fuhe theatrical troupe sang the Pihuang aria, meanwhile, they sang the high aria and Kun opera, which had been called “Messy playing troupe”. And they sang in high pitched tune and Kunqu opera simultaneously. With the Tea-picking opera developing, Fuhe opera was decayed gradually.

　　Songs and dances were always popular in Fuzhou city where produced tea and the tea-picking songs were very popular in countryside. At the beginning of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty, (A.D.1662－1665), it appeared the “three roles troupe” which was composed of a Dan role, an antic and a Zuotang role. In Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, Xiaosheng role has been added in it. These performances reflected the masses’ life and love. In Jiaqing and Daoguang of Qing Dynasty, the feudal official took “rectifying custom” to strictly forbid the “three roles troupe” to perform. After Opium War, Kun opera, Yihuang opera and Fuhe opera couldn’t stand because of the economic decline, at that moment, the “three roles troupe” thrived again in virtue of deep mass base and developed into “Half troupe”.

　　Meanwhile, “Meng opera of Ganzhu Guangchang had been affected by outside operas and formed a new type of opera which was called “Daxi” or “Tuban Xi” by the local people. (It was also Called “Xuhe river opera” at the end of 70s’ in the 20th century).

　　At the beginning of Republic of China, the old operas and big theatrical troupes declined gradually. The “Wang Fu Tang” and “Xin Da Xiang” respectively dissolved in the 29th year and 34th year of Republic of China, so Fuhe opera decayed. The “Meng Opera” has only reserved the amateur theatrical troupes in Zeng and Liu villages of Ganzhu town in Guangchang County that has performed for praying for a good harvest in the Lunar New Year’s Day. The quantity of Yihuang opera troupe cuts down sharply, it had been repeatedly prohibited then couldn’t recover after the setback from the 18th year of Republic of China. Only “Three Roles troupe” still performed actively because it was liked by the peasants deeply and it was easy to survive due to a few actors. Some actors who performed Fuhe opera, Yihuang opera, Kun opera and Puppet opera also changed to perform the “Three Roles Troupe” that the performance team expanded rapidly and roles and instruments increased and perfected continuously. Meanwhile, the opera aria and performance also developed and enriched. This expanded “Three Roles Troupe” has been called “Half Troupe” because the actors’ costumes and boxes were half of the big troupe. In the 23rd year of Republic of China, the actor Zhang Youmin, who was from “Three Roles Troupe” of Hanfu Chongren County, founded the first professional “Half Troupe” You Min Hall of Fuzhou. From then on, many professional “Half Troupes” had been founded one after another and extended all over the city.

　　During the 2nd Revolutionary Civil War period, Fuzhou City has been located the vaunt-courier area of Central Soviet-type government. Many counties and rural areas such as Guangchang, Lichuan, Zixi, Le’an, Chongren and Yihuang have founded the Soviet-type government. The revolutionary drama activity has sprung up. Some Yihuang troupes Self-wrote and self-performed “Striking the local tyrant” and other revolutionary dramas.

　　The politic, economy and culture of Fuzhou city have developed greatly with the People’s Repulic of China foundation. Meanwhile, its operas have rebounded, developed and flourished vigorously.

　　In September 1951, The Special Administration Government of Fuzhou complied with the policies which has been announced by the Government Administration Council like “let a hundred flower blossom and weed through the old to bring forth the new”, “Transform prohibition into reformation” and “Transform drama, transform actor, transform system”. They chose 18 actors to train from “Three Roles Troupe”, “Half Troupe” and “Puppet Show”. On this basis, the local floating troupe has been set up in October 1951 (It has been renamed Fuzhou Tea-picking Troupe in 1953.). The next year, “Hongfu Troupe” has been adapted into “Beijing Opera Troupe” of Fuzhou Special Administration Government. In 1956, Fuzhou government held Yihuang opera training class, and invited the old actors who performs Yihuang opera to rescue Yihuang opera and cultivate new actors, then set up Yihuang Opera Troupe. Other counties also founded their county-troupe. At the end of 1959, there were 8 Tea-picking Opera Troupes, 1 Yihuang opera troupe, 3 Beijing Opera Troupes and 1 Yue Opera Troupe. From 1954 to 1964, “Man struggles upwards” and other 3 dramas which have been created by Fuzhou district obtained high evaluation in theatrical festival of Jiangxi province for 4 times. A large number of Fuzhou actors won various prizes. Fhzhou has held professional theatrical festival for 3 times from 1960 to 1964 that has propelled prosper and development of drama creation. Fuzhou City, Chongren, Dongxiang and Nancheng County troupes performed for leading comrades in the Central Committee like Zhu De, Dong Biwu, Xiao Hua or foreign guests for many times. In April 1961, Fuzhou Tea-picking troupe went to Capital Nanchang to perform specially for Chairman Mao Zedong. Some dramas had been made into a record or and issued in China. In 1962, the Opera Workroom of Fuzhou Special Administration Government has been founded, in 1964, the Opera Worker Association of Fuzhou Special Administration Government has been founded, and the operas of Fuzhou City have entered a heyday.

　　In 1966 the Cultural Revolution started, the actors of troupe have suffered from persecution, the organization has been cancelled, the personnel has been transferred to countryside, the opera performance has been interrupted. From 1973 to 1976, the theatrical festival had been holden annually. After the arrest of Gang of Four, Fuzhou city and counties restored organization system of troupe. The operas of Fuzhou City have a prompt recovery and developed flourishingly. From 1977 to 1984, A large number of Fuzhou actors and dramas won various prizes. At the same time, a batch of excellent youth actors also became eminent. In 1980, Guangchang County troupe has taken Meng Opera “Ms. Meng Jiangnv sends cotton dress” to attend provincial report-show that has been recognized as vanished “Haiyan Aria” in Ming Dynasty and has been named “Xuhe Opera” by related experts. Then Guangchang Troupe has been renamed Xuhe Opera Troupe.
　　With science and technology development, the Operas of Fuzhou City started to set foot in broadcast and TV. The Tea-picking opera “Peony Pavilion” selections have been made a record, “Qingshui Store Disturbance”, “borrow husband”, “she walks from painting” have been recorded into radio plays by provincial broadcasting station, “Qingshui Store Distrubance” has been selected and sent to the central radio station for broadcast. The Tea-picking opera “Green bamboos” has been produced the opera telefilm by Jiangxi television station in October 1984 to join CCTV program broadcast exhibitions for celebrating thirty-five anniversary of foundation of the P.R.C and has won the broadcast exhibition program award, and has been nominated for TV Golden Eagle Award as the candidate program. Other opera works have won various awards.
　　After 1985, it’s difficult for the troupes to maintain performing regularly due to the TV popularizing. In 1987, most professional troupes of Fuzhou city have dissolved. In 1997, only Xianzu Art Experimental Theatre, Fuzhou City, Linchuan county, and Dongxiang County Tea-picking opera troupes have been preserved.
　　Besides the professional troupes, the amateur troupes were also very active. During the Great Leap, there were about two thousand amateur troupes. In 1958, there were near 2000 troupes. The famous commune militia amateur troupe of Linchuan Lidu has gone to Nanchang and Fuzhou of Fujian Military Area Command to perform and obtained favorable comments for many times. After the arrest of “Gang of Four”, many amateur troupes have been established spontaneously in rural area. In 1979 there were more than 600 amateur troupes. In the middle of 80s, most of amateur troupes disbanded automatically. In 1997, there were only 121 amateur troupes. The most effective was the “Sanbaitian Amateur Troupe” of Yihuang County.
　　In order to promote the development of amateur opera activity, Fuzhou city had held opera performances for more than 10 times successively. From 1972 to 1997, Fuzhou had held drama scripts exchanging conferences for more than 20 times and had hosted amateur troupes performing training class for two times. Many amateur drama scripts had been issued and rewarded like “The Sports Red Flag is blowing in the Wind”, “A Pair of Phoenix Chickens” and so on.
　　When most of professional troupes have been cancelled, a batch of folk vocational troupes had been established by retiring and folk actors voluntarily in Linchuan, Chongren, Jinxi and Dongxiang counties. The masses called them “Three Roles Troupe” again.