tour_operator2003@yahoo.com.cnPeking Opera is deemed as the national opera and national quintessence.
The accompanying music, singing and costumes are all fascinating and artistic.
Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents audience an encyclopedia
of Chinese culture as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite
costumes, graceful gestures and acrobatic fightings. Since it enjoys a higher
reputation than other local operas, almost every province of China has more
than one Peking Opera troupe to entertain numerous fans, who are called piaoyou
in Chinese. It is so popular in the Chinese people, especially the senior that
even an activity called Peking Opera Month is held.
Peking Opera has a more than 200-year history. It originated from Xipi and Erhuang
in Anhui and Hubei respectively, which are the main melodies of Peking Opera,
though it is called Peking Opera. And later along its way, it borrowed techniques
from many other local operas to be mature.
It is generally accepted that Peking Opera gradually came into being after 1790
when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Peking Opera underwent
fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress
Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, and eventually became more accessible
to the common people.
In the ancient times, Peking Opera was performed mostly on open-air stages in
markets, streets, teahouses or temple courtyards. The orchestra had to play
loudly and the performers had to develop a piercing style of singing, which
could be heard over the crowds. The costumes are a garish collection of sharply
contrasting colors because the stages were dim, lit only by oil lamps. It is
a harmonious combination of Grand Opera, Ballet and acrobatic display, consisting
of dancing, dialogue, monologue, acrobatic combat and mime. However emphasis
will lie on the stage.
The Peking Opera band mainly consists of orchestra band and percussion band.
The former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while the later often follows
scenes of war and fighting. The commonly used percussion instruments include
castanets, drums, bells and cymbals. One person usually plays the castanets
and the drum simultaneously, which are the conductor of the whole band. The
orchestral instruments mainly compose of the Erhu, the Huqin, the Yueqin, the
Sheng (reed pipe), the Pipa (lute) and other instruments. The band usually sits
at the left side of the exit of the stage.
Four Roles
There are four main roles in Peking Opera: Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou.
Sheng is the leading male actors and are divided into Laosheng, who wear beards
and represent old men, Xiaosheng, who represent young men, Wusheng, who play
military men and fighters and are acrobats, and Wawasheng who play kids. These
roles usually wear no facial paintings. Hongsheng, another category of Sheng
with face painted red, mainly play Guanyu (Chinese Ares) and Zhao Kuangyin (the
founder of the Song dynasty).
Dan is the female roles. Formerly, the term meant female impersonator. It is
divided into many categories. Laodan are the old ladies while Caidan the female
comedians. Wudan usually play military or non-military women capable of martial
arts. The most important category, Qingyi usually play respectable and decent
ladies in elegant costumes. Huadan represent lively and clever young girls,
usually in short costumes.
Jing, mostly male, are the face-painted roles who represent warriors, heroes,
statesmen, adventurers and demons. Jing is generally categorized into Zhengjing,
Fujing and Wujing.
Chou refers to clowns who are characterized by a white patch on the nose. Usually
white patches of different shape and size mean roles of different character.
They are not definitely rascals, while most of the time they play roles of wit,
alert and humor. It is them who keep the audience laughing and to improvise
quips at the right moments to ease tension in some serious plays.
Facial Painting
It is said that this special art derived from the Chinese opera has different
origins. But no matter what its origin is, the facial painting is worth appreciating
and full of artistic value. The paintings are presentations of roles' characters,
for example, a red face usually depicts the role's bravery, uprightness and
loyalty; a white face explains the role's sinisterness, treachery and guile;
a green face describes surly stubbornness, impetuosity and lack of self-restraint.
In addition, the pattern of the facial painting reveals the role's information
too. In a word, the unique makeup in the opera monologizes on the stage
oicelessly.