During the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century, this performing art was separated from religious rituals and became an independent dramatic form. What started off as pantomime evolved into a structured art of song, dance, chants and narration, accompanied by flamboyant masks. Story lines included the nation's history, ancient legends of heroes and Gods and satires on current events. The tradition was passed down from one generation to the next, developing into Tibetan opera, which was popularized throughout the region.
"As the opera matured it became increasingly complex in structure, containing many literary strands," said Zhaxi, director of the Tibetan Opera Troupe of the Tibetan Autonomous Region . "The stories depicted are very beautiful. It also has absorbed many local dances and other art forms and there is always a light-hearted humor in it that appeals to audiences.