PEKING OPERA

GROUP 1 PRESENTATION
 PEKING OPERA
• China is known for their traditional art form,
the Peking Opera or Beijing Opera which
combines: music, vocal performance,
performance, dance, and acrobatics.
• It started in the late 18th century and became
fully developed and recognized by the mid-
19th century.
 PEKING OPERA

• During the Qing Dynasty court it became

extremely popular and came to be
regarded as one of the cultural treasures of
China.
PEKING OPERA
PEKING OPERA
TRAINING
 TRAINING FOR PEKING
OPERA
• Pupils were often handpicked at a young age
by a teacher and trained for 7 years on contract
from the child’s parents.
• After 1911, training took place in more
formally organized schools. Students at these
schools rose as early at 5 o’clock in the
morning for exercises/
• Daytime was spent learning the skills of acting
and combat and, and senior citizens performed
in outside theaters in the evening.
ROLES AND CHARACTERS
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• SHENG- the main role in Peking Opera
a.Xiaosheng- actors are often involved with
beautiful women by virtue of the handsome
and young image they project.
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• SHENG- the main role in Peking Opera
b.Wusheng- a martial character for roles
involving combat.
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• SHENG- the main role in Peking Opera
c. Laosheng- a dignified older role, these
characters have a gentle & cultivated
disposition, wear sensible costumes.
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• DAN- refers to any female role in Peking Opera
a. Laodan- old woman
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• DAN- refers to any female role in Peking Opera
b.Wudan- martial woman
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• DAN- refers to any female roles in Peking Opera
c. Daomadan- young female warriors
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• DAN- refers to any female roles in Peking Opera
d. Qingyi- virtuous and elite women
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• DAN- refers to any female roles in Peking Opera
e. Huadan- vivacious and unmarried women
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• JING- a painted face male role who plays
either primary or secondary roles. This type of
role entails a forceful character, which means
this a Jing actor must have a strong voice and
exaggerate gestures.
- the red color denotes loyalty and
goodness, white denotes evil, and black
denotes integrity.
ROLES AND CHARACTERS

JING
 ROLES AND CHARACTERS
• CHOU- a male clown role. The Chou usually
plays secondary roles whose name also means
“ugly”.
- it reflects the traditional belief that the
clown’s combination of ugliness and laughter
could drive away evil spirits.
ROLES AND CHARACTERS

CHOU
VISUAL PERFORMANCE
ELEMENTS
 VISUAL PERFORMANCE
ELEMENTS
Peking Opera performers utilize four main skills:
• Song
• Speech
• Dance Acting- includes pure dance,
pantomime, and all other types of dance.
• Combat- includes both acrobatics and fighting
with all manner of weaponry..
MEANING OF COLORS IN
PEKING OPERA
MASKS/MAKE UPS
 MEANING OF COLORS
• RED- devotion, courage, bravery, uprightness
and loyalty
• BLACK- roughness and fierceness
• YELLOW- fierceness, ambition and cool-
headedness
• PURPLE- uprightness, sophistication and cool
headedness
• RED-PURPLE- just and noble character
 MEANINGOF COLORS
• BLUE- loyalty, fierceness, and sharpness
• WHITE- dangerousness, suspiciousness, and
craftiness. Commonly seen on stage as a
powerful villain.
• GREEN- impulsive, violent and stubbornness
• Xiaohualian- the pretty painted face
- a small patch of chalk on the
nose. Clowns of traditional drama who wear
this make-up show a mean and secretive
character. END 