Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties,Kunqu theatrical
troupes developed from Suzhou to many parts of the country,resulting in a siutation that “all(Kunqu)
opera singers originated from the Wu School(in Suzhou)”. During the Wanli Period of the Ming
Dynasty,the Shen Shixing Kunqu Opera Troupe was the most outstanding of the Shangsan Troupes.During the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasry,there were as many as a thousand Kunqu Opera Troupes in Suzhou.The Qianlong Period of the same dynasty saw the establishment of the Liyuan General Association,a trade organization of Kunqu Opera
actors,at a place under the jurisdiction of the Suzhou Weaving Management Bureau.In the late years of the Qing Dynasty,Suzhou's four major Kunqu Opera troupes were still active on the stages of towns and rural areas.One of the four,i.e.the Quanfu Troupe traveled twice to Shanxi in the 7 th
year of the Daoguang Period and the 2 nd year of the Guangxu Period.The founding of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera School in 1921 made it possible for the traditional art to be passed onto a
new generation of the New China.It trained large numbers of Kunqu actors for troupes in different parts of the country and contributed a great deal to preserving the traditional form of art.
More summaries about the A view of the history of Kunqu Opera Troupes in Suzhou