Title: Tension and Balance between Localization and De-localization in Post-2000 Overseas Dissemination of Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan

Abstract: An aesthetic gap exists between traditional Chinese opera and foreign cultural contexts. The overseas dissemination of Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan, a classic of Yu opera, displays the tension between localization and de-localization strategies. This paper analyzes these dual dissemination paths: localization through the transformation of the theme into the universal motif of good versus evil and through moderate adjustments of artistic form, and de-localization through preservation of theatrical integrity and the Chinese national spirit. Drawing upon Roland Robertson’s glocalization theory and Edward W. Said’s Orientalism, this study delineates the boundaries between these two forces and proposes a sustainable communication strategy that preserves artistic integrity while facilitating cross-cultural dialogue. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a practical model for the global promotion of traditional Chinese opera.

Keywords: Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan, overseas dissemination, localization, de-localization

Authors: Lianqiao Zhang, Professor, School of Humanities, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Fengqi Wu, School of Humanities, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

DOI: 10.19967/j.cnki.flc.2026.03.003