Yunbai

Yunbai, also known as Zhongzhou rhyme and Huguang pronunciation, is a form of stage dialect used in Beijing opera and Kunqu. It utilizes a local dialect typical of central China, with a sing-song and rhythmic quality.

Impact on other traditions

During the reign of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, the nascent form of Cantonese opera was initially performed using this stage dialect, rather than the native Cantonese of the audience. The stage dialect was generally known as Mandarin or "Stage Mandarin" by locals outside the industry. The use of this stage dialect in Cantonese opera continued into the early Republican period, as a shift to Cantonese in Cantonese opera occurred.