jīng jù: 京剧 (Beijing Opera)

Chi nese Language Pr ogr am of NYU i n Shanghai 2008 Spr i ng
New sl et t er
2008
2008

I-1: Elementary 1 I-2: Elementary 2
II-1: Intermediate 1 II-2: Intermediate 2 III: Advanced
- 1 -
Issue 9 (Apr. 2008)
(2008 )
Editors of this week: Yawu Huang; Na Li 21 -25
th
, Apr. 2008
2008 4 21 25

j ng
j
(Bei j i ng Opera)

j ngj
sh

zhnggu
de

gucu
,
x ngchng
y

bi j ng

zh j n

yu

rbi ni n

de

l sh

rsh y sh j

y l i
,
su zhe

zhnggu

j ngj

d wi
de

t go
,
j ngj
z i

gu j
sh ng
mn
mn

wi
rn
su
zh

l i n

wi
gu
rn

du

wi

j ng
j

j i o
ho
(I I )

Beijing opera is the quintessence of China. Formed in Beijing, it has nearly
200 years history. Since 21st century, as the raising of Chinese economic
position in the world, it has become an ascendant star in the world, receiving
international acclaim.

j ngj

de

j us

f nwi

shng

dn

j ng

chu

j i ndn
de
shu
,
shng

h

dn

j i sh

nnn

zhj u

j ng

h

chu

j i sh

pi j u

yuy

shnf n

de

d ngwi

btng

shng

h

dn

de

dban

b j i o

hokn
r

j ng
,

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 2 -
yu

j i o

hul i n

tng

chng

hu

hu

chng

y
g

d

hu

l i n

zh y

chu

hu

zi

b
l i ng

shng

m

y

kui

bi
f n

g
y

ban
chu
(I I )

The roles in Beijing opera can be divided into Sheng, Dan, J ing, and Chou.
Simply speaking, Sheng and Dan refer to the leading male and female roles,
while J ing and Mo refer to the supporting cast. Sheng and Dan characters are
comparatively well dressed indicating their higher status. J ing characters
which are also called hua lian are characters with painted faces. Chou
characters noses are powdered indicating their ugly appearance.

z i

y qi n

j ng

j

y n

yu n

sh

q ngy s

de

n nr n
,
j

zh ng

de

n j u
r

y
sh

y u

n n

r n

f nchu n

de

zh nggu

zu

y um ng

de

j ngj

y nyu n

m i

l n

f ng

t

b ny n

zu

ch ng

g ng

de

j u s

d ush

n r n

d nsh

d o
l e

xi nd i

su

zhe

sh hu

de

j nb

h

f n

d w i

de

j i f ng

j ngj

n

y nyu n

yu

l i

yu

du

sh nzh

y

ch xi n

l e

n r n

f n

chu n

n nj u

de

q ngku ng

ch l e

zhu ny

y n

yu n
,
zh ng

gu

h i

y u

y

d

p

i
h o

j ng
j

de

y
y

y n
yu n

t

men

b i

ch ng

w i

pi o
y u
(II)

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 3 -
In the past, only men were allowed to become Peking opera performers.
The most famous Beijing opera actor in China, Mei Lanfang was famous for
playing the role of a woman. But since the development of modern society and
the liberation of women, Beijing opera has seen an increasing number of
female performers. Now some female actresses even play male roles. In
addition to professional actors, there are a large number of amateur
performers who are called "Piao you".

j ngj

ynyun

zi

wti

shng

de

y zhoy sh

dush

chngq

xnl i n

chl i

de

suwi

ti

shng

snf nzhng

ti
xi

sh
ni n
gng
(II)
Actors must practice every movement for a long time before performing it on
stage. There is a saying among performers: three minutes performance on the stage
needs 10 years of practice.
Language Tips (I)
j ng
j
Beijing opera
j i o
h o
applaud
gu
cu
the Quintessence of a Country
f n
chu n
cross-casting./ playing a reversed male role
q ng
de
whole-colored

j ng
j

l i n
p

sh
zi

j ng
j

yn
yun

l i n
shng

hu
chng

de

yn
s

g
de

d
t

de

t
n

t
men

yng

b
tng

de

m ng
l i ng

de

s
ci

l i

ku
zhng

de

zhn
sh

rn
w

de
x ng
g

mi
zhng

yn
s

du
yu

b
tng

de

hn
y

zi
j ng
zhng

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 4 -
hng
l i n
xi ng
zhng
zhng
chn

yng
gn

bi
l i n

y
bn

di
bi o

j i n
xi n

l n
l i n

gng
qi ng

y n
xi n

hi
l i n

zh
shung

gng
y

yng
mng

r

zh
hu

l i n

yng
mng

mng
zhung

hung
l i n

yng
mng
bo
zo
(I-2,II)

The Peking opera painted face refers to the unique colorful make-up of an actor in
the opera. It is characterized by the use of bright colors to exaggerate or distort his
features. Each of these colors has its own symbolic meaning. In Peking opera, red is
the color of loyalty and bravery. White symbolizes treachery. Black signifies
foursquare and resolute character. Blue is the sign of a staunch and insidious character.
Green expresses brave fierce, impetuous rough. Yellow is used for fierce, hot headed
types.

xi
mi an

sh

l i ng
g

l
z

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 5 -
xi ng
y

y

x
ch
wng

wn
m ng

sh

y
g

bi
rn
w

t

de

bi o
q ng
sh

yn
s

de
,
xi
yn

wn
q

de

zu
b

t

yn
de

bi o
q ng

y
wi

zhe

gi
xi
zhn
de

sh
bi

t

hu
l i

zi

w
j i ng

z
sh

j ng
j

b
wng
bi
j

j i
sh

y
ch

t

sh
bi

hu

y

y
j

go
bi

de

x
(III)
sn
kng

mi
hu
wng

sh

y
zh

k
de

hu
zi

mi
yu
ba

m
m
,
k
sh
t

yu

hn
du

png
yu

t
men

du
sh
hu
zi
t

yu

y
shung

hu

y
bn

de

yn
j ng

zi
de
l i n
shng

yu

y
g

hng
s

de
Y
x ng

bi o
sh
hn
cng
m ng

t

x
huan

wn
r

hn

to
q

t

x
huan

ch

to
zi
(I-2,II)

Here are two examples:
Xiang Yu is famous as Conqueror of West Chu, he is a tragic figure, with
slanted eyes, curved lips and a solemn expression. His solemn face indicates
his defeat at the battle of Gaixia. He will later commit suicide at wujiang. The
opera Farewell My Concubine is about him and his concubine after his defeat.

Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is a cute monkey.He doesnt have father
and mother.But he has many friends who are all monkeys.He has a pair of

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 6 -
eyes like the fire. There is a red Y like shape indicating his clever. He likes to
play and very naughty.He likes peach very much..

Culture Notes:
1. Farewell My Concubine is the first mainland movie to be
awarded the Cannes Film Festival Golden Palm. Initially
relating to a historical event it was then adapted as a theme
of the traditional opera; the film is the story of two actors of
the Perking Opera, who were famous for their playing in
Farewell My Concubine, through nearly the entire span of
their lives.

2. Sun Wukong is one of the most beloved and
cherished characters in all of Chinese literature. In the
novel J ourney to the West Sun Wukong has the ability to
transform into 72 different forms. This lively fantasy
relates the amazing adventures of the priest Xuanzang
as he travels west in search of Buddhist sutras with his
three disciples, the irreverent and capable Monkey,
greedy Pig, and Friar Sand.

J i x zh n zu
(I )
Xi o L n: H oj i b j i n z i m ng sh nme ne
?

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 7 -
Lu h ng: W g nzhe y w i l osh xu x j ngj

Xi o L n: Hei K n b ch l i n h i sh y g x m ya

Lu h ng: N k b

Xi o L n: N n de n sh uh ox sh sh nme

Lu h ng B w ng Bi J

Xi o L n: Zh n de j i de Ch ng Y j de sh shu

Lu h ng: Y g pi ol i ng de Zh nggu g ni ang

Xi o L n: N k b y o j i x zh nzu , i sh ng t

Lu h ng: T sh g k ' i de g ni ang b gu w y j ng y u

n - p ngy u l a F ngch ngzu x de sh w k b g n

Xi o L n: Y u j hu w y o q x nsh ng y xi n men de

j ngj bi oy n

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 8 -

Lu h ng: T zu ti n ch ch i l e xi nz i w y g r n

ch ng d j i o- x

Xi o L n: M i sh r y h u z i shu ba
(I )

Turning a Joke into Reality

Xiaolin: Oh, long time no see! What have you been doing recently?
Luohang: I am studying Beijing opera with a teacher.
Xiaolin: Hey! I did not know that you are a theatergoer.
Luohang: I sure am!
Xiaolin: What is your specialty
Luohang: Farewell to My Concubine
Xiaolin: Really? You are great! And who is playing Yujis character?
Luohang: A beautiful Chinese girl.
Xiaolin: Oh, is it possible that you turn the make-believe to be reality and fall in
love with her?
Luohang: She is indeed a lovely girl, but I have my girlfriend. I will not mistake
fiction for reality.
Xiaolin: As soon as I have the opportunity, I will attend one of your Beijing
opera Performance.
Luohang: Yesterday she went out on business. Now, I have to play a
monodrama.
Xiaolin: All right, lets talk about it later.

Language Tips (I, II-1)

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 9 -
m
theatergoer
sh u
h o
x
something in which one is an expert.
j i
zh n
zu
turn a joke into reality.
f ng
ch ng
zu
x
join in the fun on a special occasion
j i o
x
monodrama, one-man show

Here is the link of some videos of famous Beijing Opera stories in China. Enjoy
yourself. (III)
http://www.confuciusinstitute.net/resources/1256

k n
j i n
j i
the brief introduction for Kun Qu opera

k nq
y u
ch ng

k nj

g i

j zh ng
y
2001 5 18
ni nyu r
b i

l i nh gu j i ok w nz zh

m ngm ng
w i

r nl i

k ush

y ch n
h

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 10 -
f i

w zh

y ch n

d i bi ozu

ch ngh o

s ng

yu n

y l i
,
zh nggu

x q
y u
n n

b i
zh
f n
,
n nq
z i

b t ng

d f ng

ch ngf
y

b y y ng

yu n
m
,
g
j i n
d ng
r n
b

l i x ngy

k nsh n

y d i
de

n nq

yu ny u

qi ngdi o

j i y

zh ngl
h

g i j n
,
ch ngzh w i

k nsh nqi ng
,
w i

k nq
zh

ch x ng

y
d

xi o

sh ng

p p
de

b nz u

yu q
,
z oj i
l e
zh ng

x n

y uy
,
j
n n

b i q

y udi n
y

y t
de

shu m di o

k nq

x ngqi ng

y um i
,
y

ch nmi n

w nzhu n

r um n

y uyu n

j i nch ng

z i

y nch ng

j qi o
sh ng

zh zh ng
sh ng
y n
de

k ngzh
,
j i z u

s d
de

d ncu
h

y oz
y n
de

j i ngj i

k nq
de

j u s

f ng ng

h ndu

l osh ng
f n

l ow i

l osh ng

xi o

sh ngf en
gu n
sh ng

xi osh ng

j n
sh ng

j ng
f n

d mi n

b i mi n

r
mi n

xi omi n

d n
f n

l od n

zh ngd n
zu
d n

c sh
d n

w
d n

l i
d n

rdu
d n
d ng

g
h ng

j u s
d u
z i

bi oy n
sh ng
y u

z j
t o

w nzh ng
de

bi oy n

ch ngsh

Another name for KUNQU opera is KUNJ U opera. This kind of opera got
the name of the masterpiece of oral bequest for human being from the
UNESCO. Since the SONG and YUAN dynasty, there are differences in north
and south of China for opera. NANQU was also various in different places. At

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 11 -
the end of YUAN dynasty, Gu J ian etc. made the progress of KUNQU opera.
The musical instrument for KUNQU opera are flute, xiao, sheng and lute,
which make the elegant music called Shui Mo melody. KUNQU opera was
famous for its concinnity, gentleness. And KUNQU opera pay attention to the
control of sound, the pace, the pronunciation about on the skills for singing.
There are a lot of roles in KUN QU opera, such as Sheng and Dan, which has
its own full performance.

kn
de
zh
m ng
m
the famous plays of KUNQU opera

kn
j ng
de
gun
x
the relationship between KUNQU opera and
PEKING opera

j ngj
de

ch nsh ng
h

f zh n

l buk i

k nq

sh uxi n

j ngj
de

q yu n
j i
h

k nq
y u

qi ns w nl
de

l i nx

c w i

j ngj

l mi n
y u

d l i ng
de

k nq

ch ngqi ng

h
k n
bi o
y n

k n
de
zi
sh
j ng
y n
yu n
b i
de

The bringing and development of PEKING opera is related to KUNQU
opera. First of all, the origin of PEKING opera has a close affiliation with
KUNQU opera. Secondly, there are a lot of KUNQU opera melodies in
PEKING opera. The actor of PEKING opera should have the basic skill of
KUNQU opera.

New sl et t er
2008
2008

- 12 -

Language contest
I. Questions for students above II-1
In Beijing Opera, Dan is female. But the role is performed by males. And
there are four famous Dan roles in China. Do you know who they are?
II. Brainstorms for students below II-2
What will you get if you add
xi o
bi
to
xi o
bi
?
Hints: the answer is a kind of lovely animal for the year(the year of animal)

Please send your answer to NYUinshanghai@yahoo.cn before 12:00 pm
April 28. There will be some small gifts for you if your answer is correct. Your
name will be mentioned on the next issue.
Waiting for your participation!
Please send us your answer as soon as possible ONLY the first three
students who give the correct answer for each question can get the gifts.

jīng jù: 京剧 (Beijing Opera)

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jīng jù: 京剧 (Beijing Opera)