Kunqu 昆曲
（重定向自Kunju）
![A scene from The Peony Pavilion](/Images/godic/202501/22/Pekinguniversitykunqu51748.jpg")
![Gu Jian, allegedly a transmitter of the Kunshan music in the Yuan dynasty](/Images/godic/202501/22/昆曲创始人顾坚像1748.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202501/22/Pekinguniversitykunqu41749.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202501/22/Kunqu_-_Dan1749.jpg")
Kunqu (Chinese:崑曲), also known as Kunju (崑劇), Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area. It is listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2001.