ABSTRACT
The emergence and development of the performing arts are conditioned by the history, social and cultural environment of their origin. Hokkien opera, also known as Taiwanese opera, originated in Taiwan in the late seventeenth century, flourished in the Fujian province of mainland China and spread as the spoken dialect of the performance language community in Southeast Asia (Singapore and Malaysia). The leading roles in Taiwanese Opera vividly portray both comical and special events from everyday life. As an example of an experiential product, Taiwanese Opera has been one of the most important entertainment forms in early Chinese agricultural communities and in modern society.
