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China is known for their

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traditional
theater art form, the Peking opera or
Beiking 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.
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pupils were often handpicked at a young age
by a teacher and trained for seven years on
contract from the child's parents
students of these schools rose as early as five
o'clock in the morning for exercises
daytime was spent learning the skills of acting
and combat, and senior students performed in
outside theaters in the evening.
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 SHENG 生
- a common name for a male
character
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Laosheng - or “elderly scholar”
is one of the most prominent
character types in Peking
Opera. In fact, during the early
period of Peking Opera
laosheng was the dominant
role category. It includes
middle-aged or old men, who
mostly wear an artificial beard.
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Xiaosheng - is a handsome
young male with no beard in
Peking Opera roles. The role
plays in a high-pitched and
shrill voice, with sudden
breaks from his high-pitched
voice to represent the voice-
changing period of
adolescence.
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Wusheng - is a martial
character for roles involving
combat. They are highly trained
in acrobatics and have a natural
voice when singing. Troupes
will always have a lasting actor.
A xiaosheng actor may also be
added to play roles fitting his
age.
 DAN 生
-a common name for a female
character.
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Laodan - plays an old and
clever woman. Unlike
other female roles,
Laodan wears no make-
up, and her costume is
more subdued in color and
design. Her voice is natural
and not high-pitched.
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Wudan - is a female
acrobatic role, and
requires a high standard
of acrobatics. The
costume of the role is
simple and clothing is
convenient for her
movements.
Daomadan - isAddaa little
female
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warrior role in Peking Opera.
Like the male role of
Wusheng, Daomadan actors
train mainly for action,
singing, and performing
skillfully. The features of the
role are the head-dress and
military weapons.
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Qingyi - is the main woman
role in traditional Chinese
drama. Plays dignified,
serious, and decent
characters, which are mostly
wives or mothers. Feature a
small range of motion, and
singing with a pure and high-
pitched quality.
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Huadan - is the vivacious and
unmarried woman role
inPeking Opera. Compared
to a Qingyi, a Huadan is not
of such a high social class,
and she will take the
attention of the audience
with her coy, coquettish, and
quicker movements.
 JING 净
-is a painted-face male role. can be played either a
primary or secondary role depending on the
repertoire.

The 3 main types of Jing roles are:

a. Dongchui a loyal general with a black
face who excels in singing
b. Jiazi a complex character played by a
skilled actor
c. Wujing a martial and acrobatic
character
 CHOU 丑
-is a male clown role and plays a secondary
role in a troupe.

Chou characters do not sing frequently, their

arias feature a large amount of improvisation.
a. Wen Chou is a civilian role such as merchants
and jailers,
b. Wu Chou is one of the most demanding
roles because it combines comic acting,
acrobatics, and a strong voice.
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SONG
SPEECH
DANCE-ACTING (includes pure dance,
pantomime, and all other types of dance)
COMBAT (includes both arcobatics and
fighting with all manner or weaponry)
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square platforms, the action on stage is

usually visible from atleast 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 embroided
curtain called a shoujiu
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Xingtou - popularly known as Xifu, in Chinese origins
of Peking opera
Costumes can be traced back to the mid-14th
century
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
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Oblong wings (chizi)
attached to a gauze
hat indicate a loyal
official.
In contrast, a corrupt
oficial is made to wear
a gauze hat with
rhomboidal wing
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A whip is used
to indicate a
horse
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An oar
symbolizes a
boat
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are visible to the

audience on the
front part of the
stage
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always seated south

of the stage ,
therefore, north is
the most important
direction