Regional Characteristics of Opera Groups in Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty had a vast territory, and the development of opera showed distinct regional differences. On the macro level, the development level of opera during the Wanli period showed the characteristics that the south was more prosperous than the north and the east was more prosperous than the west, with Beijing, Jiangsu and Zhejiang as the center and spreading around. In particular, although the social group structure in different regions was generally the same, different groups played different roles, resulting in regional differences in the level and direction of opera development. In Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, the deep involvement of the literati group had pushed the Wanli opera to its peak. In the northern region, the quiet adherence of the people at the bottom of the country had bred the outbreak of northern opera in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Anhui and Shanxi, under the influence of the difference between Hui merchants and Jin merchants, presented different opera features. In remote and backward places such as the southwest frontier and the northern frontier fortress, due to the immigrant groups, there had been a phenomenon of opera that was in line with the highest level in the mainland.