Peking Opera of China
China is known for their traditional theater art form, the
China is known for their traditional theater art form, the
Peking opera, or Beijing opera which combines music,
vocal performance, pantomime, dance, and acrobatics.
It started in the late 18th century and became fully
developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. During
the Qing Dynasty court, it became extremely popular and
came to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of
China.
Pupils were often handpicked at a young age by a teacher
and trained for seven years on contract from the child’s
parents. Daytime was spent learning the skills of acting and
combat and senior students performed in outside theaters
in the evening. After 1911, training took place in more
formally organized schools. Students of these schools rose
as early as five o’ clock in the morning exercises.
Characters and Roles
Sheng Peking Opera’s main role. There are three kinds.
Xiaosheng Actors are often involved with beautiful women
by virtue of the handsome and young image they project.
It is a martial character for roles involving combat. They are
highly trained in acrobatics and have a natural voice when
singing. Wusheng
Laosheng A dignified older role. These characters have a
gentle and cultivated disposition and wear sensible
costumes.
Dan It refers to any female role in Peking Opera. There are
five kinds.
Laodan An old woman.
Wudan A martial woman.
Daomadan A young female warrior.
Qingyi An elite, virtuous woman.
Huadan An unmarried, vivacious woman.
Jing Jing is a painted face male role who plays either
primary or secondary roles. This type of role entails a
forceful character, which means that a Jing actor must have
a strong voice and be able to exaggerate gestures. The red
color denotes loyalty and goodness, white denotes evil,
and black denotes integrity.
Chou A male clown that usually plays secondary roles.
Chou, meaning “ugly”, reflects the traditional belief that the
clown’s ugliness and laughter could drive away evil spirits.
Visual Performance Elements Peking opera performers
utilize four main skills such as the following.
Song Dance-Acting pure dance Speech Combat
pantomime other types of dances acrobatics fighting with
all manner of weaponry
A review on Peking Opera’s Facial Makeup Colors and
Their Meanings
Black fierceness roughness
Blue loyalty fierceness sharpness
Green impulsive stubborness violence
Purple sophistication cool-headedness uprightness
Red devotion courage bravery loyalty uprightness
Reddish Purple (Magenta) just nobility
White craftiness dangerousness suspiciousness
Yellow ambition cool-headedness fierceness
Xiaohualian It is a small patch of chalk on around the nose.
Clowns of traditional drama who wears this special makeup
show any mean and secretive character.
Aesthetic Aims and Principal Movement The highest aim of
performers in Peking opera is to put beauty into every
motion. The art forms, gestures, settings, music, and
character types are determine by long help conventions.
Conventions of movement include the following.
Walking in a large circle always symbolizes travelling a long
distance.
A character straightening his or her costume and
headdress symbolizes that an important character is about
to speak.
Pantomimic is the opening and closing of the doors and
mounting and descending of the stairs.
Staging and Costumes
Stage The stage are composed of square platforms, 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 divided into two parts by an embroidered curtain
called shoujiu.
Costumes Xingtou, popularly known as Xifu, in Chinese
origins of Peking opera.
Peking Opera of China
Peking opera, or Beijing opera which combines music,
vocal performance, pantomime, dance, and acrobatics.
It started in the late 18th century and became fully
developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. During
the Qing Dynasty court, it became extremely popular and
came to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of
China.
Pupils were often handpicked at a young age by a teacher
and trained for seven years on contract from the child’s
parents. Daytime was spent learning the skills of acting and
combat and senior students performed in outside theaters
in the evening. After 1911, training took place in more
formally organized schools. Students of these schools rose
as early as five o’ clock in the morning exercises.
Characters and Roles
Sheng Peking Opera’s main role. There are three kinds.
Xiaosheng Actors are often involved with beautiful women
by virtue of the handsome and young image they project.
It is a martial character for roles involving combat. They are
highly trained in acrobatics and have a natural voice when
singing. Wusheng
Laosheng A dignified older role. These characters have a
gentle and cultivated disposition and wear sensible
costumes.
Dan It refers to any female role in Peking Opera. There are
five kinds.
Laodan An old woman.
Wudan A martial woman.
Daomadan A young female warrior.
Qingyi An elite, virtuous woman.
Huadan An unmarried, vivacious woman.
Jing Jing is a painted face male role who plays either
primary or secondary roles. This type of role entails a
forceful character, which means that a Jing actor must have
a strong voice and be able to exaggerate gestures. The red
color denotes loyalty and goodness, white denotes evil,
and black denotes integrity.
Chou A male clown that usually plays secondary roles.
Chou, meaning “ugly”, reflects the traditional belief that the
clown’s ugliness and laughter could drive away evil spirits.
Visual Performance Elements Peking opera performers
utilize four main skills such as the following.
Song Dance-Acting pure dance Speech Combat
pantomime other types of dances acrobatics fighting with
all manner of weaponry
A review on Peking Opera’s Facial Makeup Colors and
Their Meanings
Black fierceness roughness
Blue loyalty fierceness sharpness
Green impulsive stubborness violence
Purple sophistication cool-headedness uprightness
Red devotion courage bravery loyalty uprightness
Reddish Purple (Magenta) just nobility
White craftiness dangerousness suspiciousness
Yellow ambition cool-headedness fierceness
Xiaohualian It is a small patch of chalk on around the nose.
Clowns of traditional drama who wears this special makeup
show any mean and secretive character.
Aesthetic Aims and Principal Movement The highest aim of
performers in Peking opera is to put beauty into every
motion. The art forms, gestures, settings, music, and
character types are determine by long help conventions.
Conventions of movement include the following.
Walking in a large circle always symbolizes travelling a long
distance.
A character straightening his or her costume and
headdress symbolizes that an important character is about
to speak.
Pantomimic is the opening and closing of the doors and
mounting and descending of the stairs.
Staging and Costumes
Stage The stage are composed of square platforms, 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 divided into two parts by an embroidered curtain
called shoujiu.
Costumes Xingtou, popularly known as Xifu, in Chinese
origins of Peking opera.