were underdeveloped and vulgar compared with other, more delicate opera genres in Shanghai. It soon lost its prestige and popularity in this big city.

Returning to their roots in Sheng County, Shaoxing Civic Opera performers like Wang Jinshui (???, 1879-1944) put great effort into improving their performance and singing style. These artists absorbed the essence of different opera styles including Beijing Opera they had seen in Shanghai. During this process, Four Gong Pitch (???|pinyin: Sì Gong Qiang) became the remarkable fruit of this