[Major Project] The Repertoire Volume and Theory Volume of The Encyclopedia of Han Opera Have Been Completed

News Network (Correspondent: Liu Tao) — On August 25, the final review and project acceptance meeting for the Repertoire Volume and Theory Volume of The Encyclopedia of Han Opera was held at Wuhan University.

Professor Zheng Chuanyin, chief editor of the Encyclopedia of Han Opera, introduced the completion status. At present, the combined length of the Repertoire Volume and Theory Volume approaches 15 million characters, divided into seven series totaling 52 volumes. Several of the collected works have already been awarded funding from the Hubei Provincial Academic Publishing Foundation and the National Publication Foundation, and will soon be published by Hubei People’s Publishing House.

The expert panel unanimously agreed that the encyclopedia is extensive in scope, massive in length, and well-structured. Its scale of compilation for a single theatrical genre is rarely seen, making it a monumental scholarly achievement. The panel approved the project’s completion.

Zhang Falin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wuhan University, noted that the university attaches great importance to foundational research in the humanities and social sciences, and will continue to leverage disciplinary strengths to support the inheritance and development of Han opera research. Yang Jing, Deputy Director of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, encouraged the team to build on their achievements and produce a comprehensive body of Han opera scholarship that can stand the test of history.

It is reported that in December 2021, the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and Wuhan University signed the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Promoting Han Opera Research, forming a deeply integrated strategic partnership to jointly compile The Encyclopedia of Han Opera. The agreement also included establishing institutional platforms and improving mechanisms for collaboration and exchange, with the aim of advancing Han opera research. As one of Wuhan University’s three major cultural compilation projects during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, The Encyclopedia of Han Opera has been steadily advanced by Professor Zheng Chuanyin’s team. The Repertoire Volume and Theory Volume have now been completed, the Music Volume has been officially launched, and the Performance Volume, Fine Arts Volume, Film & Video Volume, and Chronicle Volume will follow in due course.

(Editor: Xiao Shan)