The Kun Opera has not received worldwide attentions until May 2001 the first proclamation of “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

     Yet as early as in January 1992 National Central University has set up Research Section for Chinese Drama and Opera and undertook collecting and research on artifacts,documents, and video records of Kun Opera. Our extensive collections and research are well-reputed both in Taiwan and overseas.

      The “Digital Archives Program on Kun Opera from Suzhou to Taiwan” intends to digitalize the collection and research results over ten years in Research Section for Chinese Drama and Opera, National Central University so as to provide academic resources by the platform of “National Digital Archives Program”.

      This program includes three phases:

      Phase I: the digitalization of “Collection of Kun Opera artifacts in Research Section for Chinese Drama and Opera, National Central University”

      Phase II: the visual digitalization of “video records on the presentations ofKun Opera arts by contemporary masters”

      Phase III: the visual digitalization of “Performances of Kun Opera inTaiwan”and documentary digitalization of “Kun Opera in Taiwan”

      This digital archives program will proceed on three phases to achieve two following goals:

      Firstly, the collections and research results of Research Section for Chinese Drama and Opera, National Central University will be digitalize for the use of scholars of Chinese theater both in Taiwan and overseas.

     Secondly, after completing the digitalization of collections and research results of Research Section for Chinese Drama and Opera, such online database will encourage audience cultivation and academic training and enable Taiwan to be the arena of Kun Opera performances and academic research. It can further upgrade levels of performance and academic of other traditional operas, such as Peking Opera and Taiwanese Opera.

     This program is sponsored by “Project of Promoting Academic Excellence and Developing World Class Research Centers”, which is under a five-year project with a 50 billion NT dollar budget in National Central University launched by the Educational Ministry and monographic study of National Science Council. At the moment some initial steps including data sorting out and preliminary research are completed. If this program be adopted by the “National Digital Archives Program”,by means of digitalized collection and internet promotion it must be great advantage to enhance qualities of theatrical performances and academic research in Taiwan.