Review and Prospect of Guangdong Han Opera, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage Project

Abstract: Guangdong Han Opera, one of the three major opera genres in Guangdong Province, was originally known as "Waijiang Opera" and was inscribed on the national list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage" in 2008. A systematic review of research findings related to Guangdong Han Opera reveals comprehensive studies by scholars on its origin, dissemination, and evolutionary process, as well as its artistic essence, inheritance, and preservation. However, as a cultural entity, Guangdong Han Opera necessitates further research from an anthropological perspective to explore the internal viewpoints of its performers and aesthetic subjects. Simultaneously, interdisciplinary approaches such as sociology should be employed to focus on the cognition, emotions, and expectations of its audience, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of Guangdong Han Opera in contemporary society.