MODULE IN ARTS: Festivals and Theater Arts of China, diverse objects as a city wall, a mountain, or a bed.

A whip is used
Japan, Indonesia and Thailand to indicate a horse, and an oar symbolizes a boat.
CHINA – known for their traditional theatre art form Musicians: are visible to the audience on the front part of the
Chinese Peking Opera or Beijing Opera stage.
- Is a traditional theater art form of China. It is based on Viewers: always seated south of the stage, therefore, north is the
Chinese history; folklore and contemporary life. The two most important direction.
main melodies used are xipi and erhuang. Performers: immediately move to the center north upon entering
Roles and Characters the stage. All characters enter from the east and exit from the
SHENG – is the main male role in Peking opera. west.
1. Xiaosheng – actors are often involved with beautiful Chinese Spring/New Year Festival
women by virtue of the handsome and young image they - Spring Festival is also known as Chinese New Year. It is
project. the most important traditional Chinese holiday. Chinese
2. Wusheng – is a martial character for roles involving families gather for the annual reunion dinner know as
combat. They are highly trained in acrobatics and have a “Eve of Passing Year” and end the night with fire crackers
natural voice when singing. to drive away bad luck so that good fortune, happiness,
3. Laosheng – is a dignified older role. These characters wealth and longevity enter their homes. The colourful
have a gentle and cultivated disposition, and wear dragon dancing on the streets accompanied by playing of
sensible costumes. the drums are also part of the celebration.
DAN – refers to any female role in Peking opera.
1. Laodan – an old woman.
2. Wudan – a martial woman.
3. Daomadan – are young female wariors.
4. Qingyi – are various and elite women.
5. Huadan – are vivacious and unmarried women.
JING – is a painted face male role who plays either primary or
secondary roles.
CHOU – is a male clown role.
Visual Performance Elements
The performers ulitize four main skills:
1. Song
2. Speech
3. Dance-acting (includes pure dance, pantomime and all
types of dance)
4. Combat (includes both acrobatics and fighting with all
manner of weaponry)
Aesthetic Aims and Principles of Movement
- The highest aim is to put beauty into every motion that is
why they determined conventions of movements.
Musicians are visible in front of the stage. Whip, fans,
and ore are commonly used as props of the play.
Staging and Costumes
Stage: square platforms, the action on stage is usually visible from
at least three sides; stages were built above the line of sight of the
viewers, but some modern stages have been constructed with
higher audience seating divided into two parts by an embroidered
curtain called a shoujiu.
Costume: Xingtou, popularly known as Xifu, in Chinese origins of
Peking opera. They enable the audience to distinguish a
character’s sex and status at first glance-if noble or humble, civilian
or military, officials or private citizens, give expression to sharp
distinctions between good and evil or loyal and wicked characters.
Props: utilized very few props, will almost have a table and at least
one chair, which can be turned through convention into such