Representation of Chinese Opera in Xiong Picturebooks

Xiong Liang is an illustrator widely recognized as a pioneer of Chinese picturebooks. His works seek to be both visually appealing and educational in familiarizing readers with traditional aspects of Chinese cultural life. This article focuses on Wu Song Da Hu 武松打1- [Wu Song Beats the Tiger] and - &[Battle of Changbanpo], a picturebook adaptations of the operas of the same titles. In Xiong's work, the human characters are depicted as charming street cats for their playfulness. This article analyses Xiong's picturebooks to unveil the creation of a clever synergy of word, sound, and image to introduce young readers to the traditional art of Chinese opera.