The Plain-Clothed Prefect
The Plain-Clothed Prefect (Buyi junshou) is a Manhan Opera historical drama discussed by Jiang Xiaofang and Cui Xiangdong. The work's stage story centres on Cui Shi's service in Wuyuan and conflict with Chai Lang. The account below describes the drama as read by these critics, rather than independently establishing ancient history. [1] [2]
The Plain-Clothed Prefect · 布衣郡守 · Buyi junshou
The translated title is an editorial aid, not a claim of an officially adopted English title.
Cui's article identifies an affiliation with Baotou Arts Theater. It is a practitioner's review, not an independent assessment of this website or its editor.
The conflict on stage
Cui's review describes Cui Shi promoting hemp growing and weaving to improve people's lives, while facing resistance represented by Chai Lang. Public responsibility becomes a dramatic conflict between characters and interests, rather than simply a recital of a historical official's achievements. This is the reviewer's reading of the work. [1]
Identifying a historical figure as a play's subject does not verify every incident or speech in the script. Research into the historical Cui Shi needs independent historical sources.
A story told through recollection
Both critics draw attention to the way the plot is arranged. Cui discusses interwoven visible and less immediately visible strands, including imprisonment and recollection. Jiang describes a backward-looking frame and inserted recollections, with a jailer's questions helping connect the story. [1] [2]
This makes narrative structure a useful starting point for study: distinguish what happens in the dramatic present from what a character recalls, and note how the audience learns the reasons for the conflict. The published reviews do not establish that every later staging retains exactly the same structure.
Music and performance choices
Cui identifies er ren tai materials such as Palou and Song simen in the music. The review also describes elements of the Jin opera painted-face role tradition in Chai Lang's performance. These are observations about this production, not a mandatory musical or acting system for the whole genre. [1]
Read this example alongside the music guide: shared material can be rearranged for a different dramatic purpose, and a borrowed element does not make two genres interchangeable.
A dated administrative record
The Ministry of Culture's July 6, 2016 notice lists Manhan Opera Buyi junshou, submitted by Baotou Manhan Art Theater, as item 15 in the National Arts Fund's large-scale stage-work creation category. The record supports the precise statement that it appeared in that 2016 public notice. [3]
Cui's later article refers to a 2017 funding year. This site preserves the difference rather than selecting a date without explanation. The notice alone does not prove payment, project completion, a premiere date or participation by any particular person in this website's project. [1] [3]
Sources
- Cui Xiangdong. “Danxin chicheng, shouzheng chuangxin: ping Manhanju Buyi junshou.” Xiju Zhi Jia, 2023, no. 1, pp. 51 - 53. Plot, structure and music discussed on p. 52; funding-year claim in the article's opening summary. Original journal pages consulted.
- Jiang Xiaofang. “Kua minzu xin juzhong: Manhanju de chengzhang guancha.” Zhongguo Xiju, 2020, no. 8, pp. 73 - 74; narrative discussion on p. 74. Original journal pages consulted.
- Ministry of Culture: National Arts Fund 2016 project-list public notice. July 6, 2016; large-scale stage-work creation projects, item 15. The named applicant is a theatre organization, not this website or its editor.
Sources reviewed October 20, 2026. Full original article titles appear in the research bibliography. No scripts, scores or journal scans are reproduced.