How did kunqu develop from the southern tradition of Chinese music-drama?

Kunqu developed from the southern tradition of Chinese music-drama through a process of refinement and synthesis that began in the 16th century.12

The foundation of this evolution was the kunshan qiang ("Kunshan tune"), a musical style originating in the late Yuan dynasty. Created by the musician Gu Jian, this style was an improvement upon the music of nanxi ("southern drama").1

In the mid-1500s, the musician Wei Liangfu spent a decade refining this tradition by combining kunshan qiang with other regional folk and popular melodies. This resulted in a sophisticated, melodious musical form often described as shuimodiao ("water-polished music"). The dramatist Liang Chenyu subsequently adapted this new musical style into full-length chuanqi ("marvel tale") operas, most notably Huanshaji ("Washing the Silken Gauze").12

While kunqu initially emerged as a popular form, its refined, "water-polished" aesthetic and complex poetic structures eventually led it to become a specialized theatre favored by the literati, distinguishing it from the more bombastic styles of popular theatre.132