Gaojia (also known as Ko-kah) refers to a traditional form of Chinese opera that originated in Quanzhou, located within the Hokkien-speaking region of southern Fujian province in southeast China. The art form first emerged during the late Ming dynasty and is particularly noted for its diverse range of clown roles.
Originally an improvised performance integrated into religious parades, Gaojia opera evolved into Songjiang drama, which featured acrobatics and narratives centered on the character Songjiang from the classic novel Water Margin. During the mid-Qing dynasty, the style incorporated influences from Beijing opera, Hui opera, and Yiyang music. The accompanying musical arrangements are characteristic of southern China and exhibit influences from Liyuan opera.
In the Philippines, the tradition is known as Kaoka (高甲戲). In this region, it is regarded as a dying tradition.