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Music
Quarter 4 – Module 3:
Chinese Theater: Peking Opera
Music – Grade 8
Quarter 4 – Module 3: Chinese Theater: Peking Opera
First Edition, 2020

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Department of Education – Region XI

Office Address: DepEd Davao City Division, Elpidio Quirino Ave., Davao City
Telefax: 224-3274
E-mail Address: davaocity.division@deped.gov.ph
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Music
Quarter 4 – Module 3:
Chinese Theater: Peking Opera
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use
this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning at home. Furthermore, you are
expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included
in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible of your own
learning. Take time to read, understand, and perform the different activities
in the module.

As you go through the different activities of this module be reminded of

the following:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part
of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other
activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are done.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module,

do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that
you are not alone. We hope that through this material, you will experience
meaningful learning and gain deep understanding of the relevant
competencies. You can do it!

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 Let Us Learn

Before we start, I would like to know how far you know about the Chinese
Music. Specifically, it seeks to achieve the learning competency
Describe how a specific idea or story is communicated through music
in a particular Asian musical theater; (MU8TH-IVb-h-3).

And we will focus our learning objectives with the following:

1. describe the different story or idea expressed in Chinese Peking Opera;
and
2. play the instrumental tunes used to accompany the idea or story of
Chinese Peking Opera.

Are you ready? Let’s do this. Now, let us start learning about this module.
See you and good luck!

Let Us Try
Draw Me your Emotion

Instruction: Draw the emotion being asked in each box using an emoji. You
may add color on it to make it more presentable. Item number 1 is an example.

1. Happy 2. Sad 3. Frightened

4. Excited 5. Angry 6. In Love

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 Guide Questions:

1. Can you enumerate again the emotion/feeling you drew? Say something
about it.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

2. Is it possible to describe or express these feelings through music? Defend

your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Let Us Study
Chinese Peking Opera: Specific story or idea

Peking Opera was considered as the highest form of arts in China

wherein speech, singing, mime, and acrobatics are performed to an
instrumental accompaniment. The instruments are divided into two, the
Wenchang (civil division) which is mainly there to accompany singing
featuring the stringed instruments, and the Wuchang (military division)
whose music is to accompany acting, dancing and fighting featuring the
percussion instruments.
Basically, music accompaniment is used to describe specific story or
idea of the play. But the music played by the Peking opera musicians is not
created by a composer. It is based on sets of traditional, codified tunes, with
the singing mainly following two sets of tunes.

• Xipi – is the tunes used to express an excited mood such as

happiness, anger, or agitation.
• Erhuang – is the tunes used to express a subdued mood and deep
thought such as a loss, sorrow, or melancholy.

The stories of Chinese Peking opera come from the history of China that
includes tales from the dynasties, historical events and stories about
emperors, ministers, and beautiful women. Among are these five popular
stories of Chinese Peking Opera:

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1. Farewell My Concubine
The story is about Xiang Yu, the “Hegemon King of Western Chu”, who
battled for the unification of China against Liu Bang. In the play, Xiang Yu
is surrounded by Liu Bang's forces and was about to be defeated. He calls
to his horse and pleads to run away. But the horse refuses. So, he then
calls for his favorite concubine, Consort Yu who begs to die alongside her
master after realizing their situation. Xiang Yu strongly refuses.
Afterwards, as he is distracted, Yu commits suicide using his sword.

Click the link to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32kd8_9a4

2. Drunken Beauty
The extraordinarily beautiful Yang Yuhuan was the favorite concubine
who had arranged to meet Emperor Ming. However, the Emperor lets her
down, going instead to another princess. The situation made her upset and
starts to drink alone and sad.

Click the link to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGgg_i63jAM

3. The Heavenly Maid Scatters Blossoms

This play is also known as a Fairy Maiden Scatters Flowers who was
ordered by the Buddha to scatter blossoms in Vimalakirti Nirdesa’s room
to test his faith. The heavenly maid scatters the blossoms in front of him
and proclaims the Buddha’s words before she returns to the west.

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Click the link to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luJbI0K45tI

4. Lady Wang Zhaojun Goes Beyond the Frontier

The story is about Wang Zhaojun in the Han Dynasty who was endowed
with both beauty and intelligence but did not pay bribes to the painter in
the palace that is why her portrait was painted badly. She was never visited
by the Emperor because of that. Until one day, Wang Zhaojun was playing
sorrowful melodies on Pipa, a Chinese stringed instrument to display her
lonely emotion. The music attracted the Emperor, and her beauty was
revealed.

Click the link to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq6CevdzpWE

5. Lady Mu Guiying Takes Command

This opera is generally billed as Mu Guiying Gua Shuai, or Taking
Command of the Troops, and was the last play of Mei Lanfang. When the
lord of West Xia starts a rebellion, the 50-year-old female general Mu
Guiying takes command of the troops and puts aside her personal hurt
despite her family having been treated unfaithfully. Still, she returned to
the battlefield with her husband and their children.

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Click the link to view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kR-BmEIaHI

Follow up Question:

• While watching the popular stories of Chinese Peking Opera, where you
able to identify the mood or idea it expresses? How?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.

Let Us Practice
IDENTIFYING EMOTION/FEELING OF THE STORY

Instructions: Going back to the five popular stories of Peking Opera, analyze
the emotion or feeling being expressed. Draw an emoji that corresponds to
your answer and identify what specific tunes should be applied. Complete the
table below.

Chinese Peking Opera Emotion / Specific tunes

Stories Feeling through (Xipi or Erhuang)
Emoji
1. Farewell My Concubine

2. Drunken Beauty

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3. The Heavenly Maid Scatters
Blossoms
4. Lady Wang Zhaojun Goes
Beyond the Frontier
5. Lady Mu Guiying Takes
Command

Let Us Practice More

PRACTICE PLAYING THE XIPI AND ERHUANG TUNES

Instructions: Refresh your mind on how to produce sounds base on the

musical notes. Play the Xipi and Erhuang tunes following the sample music
sheets below. Follow what to use in producing the sounds.

Clapping

Stomping

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 Using
Spoon and
Fork

Striking
empty bottle
with a stick

Let Us Remember

• Peking Opera was considered as the highest form of arts in China

performed to an instrumental accompaniment where instruments are
divided into Wenchang (civil division) and Wuchang (military division).
• Two sets of tunes that accompanies story or mood of Peking Opera: Xipi
tunes – happiness, anger or agitation; and Erhuang tunes – loss, sorrow
or melancholy

Let Us Assess

I. Multiple Choice: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. The highest form of arts in China performed in instrumental

accompaniment.
a. Peking Opera c. Kabuki
b. Wayang Kulit d. Dragon Dance

2. The instrumental music for civil division that accompanies singing.

a. Wuchang c. Xipi
b. Wenchang d. Erhuang

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 3. The instrumental music for military division that accompanies acting,
dancing, and fighting.
a. Wuchang c. Xipi
b. Wenchang d. Erhuang

4. Set of tunes in Peking Opera used to express an excited mood.

a. Wuchang c. Xipi
b. Wenchang d. Erhuang

5. Set of tunes in Peking Opera used to express a subdued mood and

deep thought.
a. Wuchang c. Xipi
b. Wenchang d. Erhuang

II. Identify the correct tunes used to express the following mood in Peking
Opera. Write X for Xipi and E for Erhuang.

____1. Happiness ____3. Melancholy ___5. Agitation

____2. Sorrow ____4. Anger

Let Us Enhance

Now that you were able to describe the different stories or ideas
expressed in Chinese Peking Opera, can you now play an instrumental as the
music accompaniment?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Let Us Reflect

You have successfully learned Chinese Peking Opera and its stories.
Always remember that each of the stories or ideas can be expressed through
music accompaniment to understand it better. The story can be about
happiness, anger, agitation, loneliness, loss, sorrow, and melancholy.

Congratulations! You have accomplished this module and you did a

great job! I hope you enjoy answering the activities and performing the song.
Hope you continue answering other modules with enthusiasm. See you and
God bless. Stay safe.

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Answer Key

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 References

Flores, G. B. (2015). Music Learning Module for Grade 8. Letran-Calamba

Journal of Institutional Research and Development, 1(2), 1-1.

Jin, J. (2011). Chinese music. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from

https://books.google.it/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9MI6JHKw9BQC&oi=fn
d&pg=PA1&dq=book+in+Chinese+music&ots=m4DXiI-
Mcp&sig=LicEgkvi6JcN2VPL65jXAM3jF5E#v=onepage&q=book%20in
%20Chinese%20music&f=false on June 8, 2020

Wickham, R. (n.d.). China Educational Tour. Retrieved from

https://www.chinaeducationaltours.com/guide/culture-peking-
opera-staging-music-costumes.htm on June 30, 2020

Xu, C. (2012). Peking opera. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from

https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=IA81JYuR9egC&oi
=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Chinese+Peking+Opera&ots=wG99WF0nNl&sig=Wo
tn2My09MGHEChxEmUlXPr9fTE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Chinese
%20Peking%20Opera&f=false on June 30, 2020

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region XI Davao City Division

DepEd Davao City, Elpidio Quirino Ave., Davao City

Telefax: 224-3274

Email Address: davaocity.division@deped.gov.ph