November 11^th was the 28^th day of the ninth lunar month which marked the birthday of Master Huaguang, the founder of Cantonese opera. According to the traditional customs of Cantonese opera guilds, a grand procession was organized to carry the statue of Master Huaguang for a celebratory parade. This celebrating activity for Huaguang's birthday had been suspended for 70 years until its revival in 2015 in the Liwan District, Guangzhou City. On November 11^th, Liwan District also welcomed the 9th Procession and Performance for the Birth of Cantonese Opera Huaguang.

Around 9:00 in the morning, performing actors of Cantonese theatrical martial arts from Luanyu Tang (a place for Cantonese theatrical martial arts training) in various places gathered together, each taking their respective positions. As the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, a procession consisting of rectangular wooden signs, colorful flags, and a variety of traditional weapons began, while the performance team escorted Master Huaguang on his parade. Master Huaguang was carried on a dedicated palanquin, lifted by esteemed martial arts masters from the Luanyu Tang, and proceeded out of Yongqing Fang, Liwan District.

Among the procession, one could find the presence of renowned Cantonese opera master and permanent honorary chairman of the Guangdong Luanyu Tang, Ye Zhaobai, who was directing the orderly progress of the procession by the members of the Luanyu Tang. As Ye mentioned, "I'm getting older, so this time I'll let the younger generation carry Master Huaguang while I assist on the side. Just being able to witness it is enough for me."

The 87-year-old man once personally witnessed the building of the Luanyu Tang. "In 1947, more than 300 people, including myself, each contributed four bags of rice to collectively purchase the site for the Luanyu Tang, located in the second alley of Yongqing Fang. The Luanyu Tang has witnessed the transformation of Yongqing Fang and the flourishing of Cantonese opera at the Art Museum of Guangdong Cantonese Opera."

The one who was responsible for escorting Master Huaguang was Xie Yunhong from Xintang Town in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City. He is one of the last disciples accepted by the Cantonese opera master Luo Pinchao in his nineties. In Xie Yunhong's memory, Master Luo was a generous and highly skilled artist.

Recalling the process of meeting and becoming Master Luo's disciple, Xie Yunhong still remembered, "In 2001, I had the opportunity to meet Master Luo Pinchao through recommendation. Since then, whenever I had a Cantonese opera performance in Xintang Town, I would make a DVD for him to watch. In 2008, following the advice of other teachers, Master Luo Pinchao immediately agreed to formally accept me as his disciple, even though I was already 64 years old at the time."

Over the years, Xie always remembered the advice of his senior male fellow apprentice, the renowned Cantonese opera and comedic artist Huang Junying. "He urged me to learn the essence of Cantonese opera performance from Master Luo Pinchao and promote Cantonese opera."

Today, Xie serves as the head of the training base of Luo School for the Cantonese Opera, one of the intangible cultural heritage projects in Zengcheng District. The man regularly stages Cantonese opera performances and has brought Cantonese opera to schools multiple times, passing on the art of the Luo School Cantonese opera to the new generation.

During the procession, the statue of Master Huaguang arrived at Jingsheng Square in Yongqing Fang. The performance team placed Master Huaguang on a bus, which then traveled a distance to reach the Guangzhou Cultural Park. With lion dances in motion, the statue of Master Huaguang was carried on a parade within the park. Following the procession, a splendid display of martial arts and Cantonese opera performances commenced on the central stage of the cultural park.

Performers from the Guangdong Yueju Opera Theater, the Inheritance Base for Juniors at the Art Museum of Guangdong Cantonese Opera, and the Guangdong Luanyu Tang, among others, took turns showcasing their swordplay, water-sleeve dancing, spear manipulation, horsewhip performance and more, delighting the residents and audience members alike.

粤剧祖师诞巡游，龙虎武师齐献技

11月11日，农历九月廿八，是粤剧祖师华光师傅的诞辰，传统习俗粤剧行会要抬着华光祖师像巡游。华光诞巡游曾停办70年，2015年，广州市荔湾区复办华光诞巡游。11日当天，荔湾区举办第九届粤剧华光祖师诞巡游展演活动。

当天上午9时许，来自各地的銮舆堂叔父子弟齐聚，各就各位。锣鼓声响起，高脚牌、各色旗帜、十八般兵器等仪仗开路，叔父子弟们护送华光祖师出巡。华光祖师被专属的銮舆搭载着，由銮舆堂有威望的粤剧武打行当师叔们抬起，走出永庆坊。

在巡游队伍中，能找到粤剧名家、广东粤剧銮舆堂永远荣誉堂主叶兆柏的身影，他指挥着銮舆堂子弟们有序开展巡游。叶兆柏说：“自己年纪大了，这次让位给后生们抬华光祖师，我在旁边帮忙打点，看看就好。”

叶兆柏今年87岁，他亲历銮舆堂堂口的筹建，“1947年，包括我在内的300多人，大家各自出4担米，一起买下位于永庆二巷，即銮舆堂所在堂口。銮舆堂见证着永庆坊换新颜，见证着粤剧艺术博物馆的粤韵飘扬。”

负责护送华光祖师的还有来自增城区新塘镇的谢运洪，他是粤剧大师罗品超在九旬高龄时收纳的“关门弟子”。在谢运洪的印象中，师傅罗品超大师是一位性情豪爽、品艺高超的人。

提起与罗品超相识、结为师徒的过程，谢运洪记忆犹新：“在2001年，经他人介绍，我认识罗品超大师，此后，每当我在增城新塘有粤剧表演，我都会刻制成光盘给他看。2008年，在其他老师的建议下，罗品超大师马上答应正式收我为徒，当时我已经64岁了。”

多年来，谢运洪永远记着自己的大师兄，即著名粤语相声表演艺术家黄俊英的叮嘱：“师兄让我一定要向罗品超大师学好粤剧表演的精髓，将粤剧传扬。”

如今，谢运洪是增城区非遗项目罗派艺术粤剧传承基地的负责人，他定期开展粤剧表演，多次将粤剧带进校园，将罗派艺术粤剧教授给下一代。

巡游当天，华光祖师来到永庆坊金声广场，銮舆堂的叔父子弟将华光祖师抬上巴士，经巴士行驶一段路程后，到达广州文化公园。醒狮舞动，銮舆堂叔父子弟抬着华光祖师在文化公园巡游。巡游后，一场精彩的武艺表演和粤剧展演在文化公园中心台开场。

来自广东粤剧院、广州粤剧院、粤剧艺术博物馆少儿粤剧传承基地、广东粤剧銮舆堂等粤剧表演者和票友们陆续上场，为街坊献上挥剑、舞水袖、耍花枪、打马鞭等表演。

文｜记者 马思泳 通讯员 荔宣
图｜记者 陈秋明
译｜陈萱
责编 | 王楠
校对 | 赵丹丹