Peking Opera

Beijing Opera is a comprehensive performing art that combines music, singing, dialogue, pantomime, acrobatics and martial arts. Hence an actor or actress in Beijing Opera has to meet more requirements than that in other forms of performing art. He or she has to be a performing artist, a singer, and a dancer at the same time. It usually takes the student more than ten years of training to learn singing and acrobatic skills. Thus, it is difficult to be a qualified performer in Beijing Opera.

Symbolism prevails in Beijing Opera. The stage of Beijing Opera knows no limit in space or time. It can be the setting for any action. The performer's acting is mostly pantomine. Footwork, gestures, and various kinds of body movements can portray and symbolize the actions of opening a door, climbing a hill, going upstairs, or rowing a boat. When a girl is doing needlework, she has neither a needle nor thread in her hands. When a lady is riding in a carriage, the performer actually has to walk flanked on each side by a flag with colored tassels representing riding a horse. Four generals and four soldiers represent an army of thousands. In a word short, each action of a performer of Beijing Opera is highly symbolic.

The music of Beijing Opera combines the er huang tune from Anhui Opera, the xi pi tune from Hanju (Hubei Opera), and tunes and musical accompaniment of from Kunqu (Kunshan Opera). Typical Chinese musical instruments are used in a Beijing Opera orchestra. The two-stringed fiddles jing hu and er hu are two of the main instruments. Other instruments include sheng (reed pipes), Yue qin (moonshaped mandolin, pi pa (the Chinese lute), suo na (the Chinese clarinet), drums, bells, gongs, and hardwood castanets.

Springing singing in Beijing Opera consists of a score of many melodies based on xi pi and sorrowful feelings. Spoken dialogue is in two forms: yun bai, which sounds like the Hubei and Anhui dialects, and jing bai, which sounds like the Beijing dialect. The former is used by main and serious characters and the latter for minor and frivolous roles.

The roles in Beijing Opera are divided into four main types according to the sex, age, social status, and profession of the character. Sheng refers to male roles. Sheng subdivided into lao sheng (middle-aged or old men), xiao sheng (young men )and wu sheng (men with martial skills). Dan refers to female roles. Like sheng, dan is also subdivided into various types. Qing yi is a woman with a strict moral code; hua dan is a vivacious young woman; wu dan is a woman with martial skills and lao dan is an elderly woman. Jing refers to the roles with painted faces. They are usually warriors, heroes, statesmen, or even demons. Jing can be further divided into wen jing (civilian type) and wu jing (warrior type ). Chou, or clown, is a comic character and can be recognized at first sight for by his special make-up (a patch of white paint on his nose). Chou is subdivided into wen chou (civilian clown)and wu chou (clown with martial skills).

In Beijing Opera facial painting, which is applied to jing roles only, shows the character's age, profession and personality by using different colors. Each color symbolizes a certain characteristic; red for loyalty and uprightness, black for a rough, stern or honest nature, yellow for rashness and fierceness, white for a cunning and deceitfulness, gold and silver for gods and demons. In Beijing Opera, over one thousand painted facial patterns are used. Each pattern's uniqueness lies in its ability to make subtle and interesting changes within the fixed facial pattern.

The costumes in Beijing Opera impress the audience with their bright colors and magnificent embroiidery. Some of the costumes used in modern performances have a resemblance to the fashion of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The use of colors indicates social status -yellow for the imperial,red for high nobility, red or blue for upright men, white for old officials and black for each role. A student usually wears a blue gown general wears padded armor; an emperor wears a dragon robe. Besides gorgeous clothes and headdresses, jeweled girdles for men and hair ornaments for women are also used in Beijing Opera.

Since Liberation, much has been achieved in reforming this traditional opera. Efforts have been made to eliminate the feudal aspects, to improve stagecraft, and to widen the subject matter. A new generation of young actors and actresses has emerged and is making new achievements within the traditional schools.