Abstract: There are at least three theoretical misconceptions on the creation of modern xiqu: to consider conventionalization essential to xiqu, to consider typification of roles essential to xiqu, and to consider "xiquness," whose meaning is rather vague, as the creative goal and artistic criterion of xiqu. However, these misconceptions fail to hinder the practical development of modern xiqu creation. Directors like Zhang Manjun have created an innovative genre known as "new opera of song and dance." This maneuver, in fact, signifies a return to the comprehensiveness of traditional xiqu, which, centering on music, features a trinity of poetry, song, and dance. Through this effort, modern xiqu is able to disentangle itself from the contraint such as conventionalization, typification of roles, as well as "xiquness" and strike out a new path for future development.

Key words: modern xiqu, conventionalization, typification of roles, xiquness, music, new opera of song and dance