Puzhou Bangzi was formed in Puzhou (now Yongji City) in the triangle area between Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, mainly popular in southern Shanxi and parts of Shaanxi and Henan provinces. In the early stage, it was called "Strum" or "Bangzi Tune". In the middle Qing Dynasty, it was called "Shan-Shaan Bangzi". In the early Republic of China, it was called "Puzhou Bangzi". It is one of the ancient opera types of clapper opera, known as the originator of "clapper opera".
Puzhou Bangzi is a type of Banqiang opera, mainly singing in Bangzi tune (Chinese local operas performed to the accompaniment of wooden clappers), and it also has Kun Opera, Blowing Tune and Folk Ditties, etc. Bangzi opera belongs to clapper singing system, with 7 kinds of basic clapper types, and also more than 300 traditional musical instruments like Suona Qupai and String Qupai. Puzhou Bangzi's vocal characteristics are singing high plate urgent, generous and intense with bold and unrestrained tunes and full of passion. Puzhou Bangzi's singing style is not only good at expressing generous passion, moving tragic and miserable heroic historical drama, but also depicting the character and emotion of lyrical drama. The most distinctive feature of its performance is bold and unrestrained, broad and strong, stretch and bright, focusing on workmanship. In particular, it is skilled in performing characters with special effects, which is a difficult and highly ornamental performance skill. Its special skills alone has more than 30 kinds, among them, the Mao Chi, Ran Kou, Ling Zi, Shao Zi, Whip and Stilt are enjoying a high reputation in the country.
