Beijing Opera

Beijing Opera is the most popular and influential opera in China with a history of almost 200 years. In the course of its formation, it assimilated the best from many other local operas and was affected by Beijing local dialect and customs. Though Beijing Opera originated from Beijing, it is not a localized opera exclusive to Beijing only. Beijing Opera troupes can be found in most regions of China.

Beijing Opera combines singing, recital, acting, and acrobatic fighting. Singing refers to the singing according to certain tunes. Recital refers to monologue by performers and dialogues between performers. Acting refers to body movements and facial expressions. Acrobatic fighting refers to choreographed martial art.

In the long term of development, Beijing Opera has formed a number of fictitious props. For instance, a penal means a boat, a whip in the hand means riding on the horse. Without any physical props involved, an actor may perform going upstairs or downstairs, opening or closing a door by mere gestures. Though rather exaggerated, those actions would, with their graceful movements, give audience a deep impression.

There are four main roles in Beijing Opera: sheng, dan, jing, and chou.  Sheng are the leading male actors, and are divided into laosheng who wear beards and represent old men. Xiaosheng who represent young man, and wusheng who are acrobats playing military men and fighters. Those roles usually wear no facial paintings. Famous actors playing this type of role include Ma Lianliang, Zhou Xinfang, Zhou Xinfang and Li Shaochun. Dan are female roles. Formerly, the term meant female impersonators. It is further divided into several categories. The most important category, Tingyi, usually play respectable and decent ladies in elegant costumes. Wuhan usually play military or non-military woman capable of martial arts. Laden are the old ladies. Mei Lanfranc, Cheng Yaqui, Shang Liaoyuan and Sun Hushing were the celebrated Four Major Dan roles in the 1920s.Jing, mostly male, are the face-painted roles who represent warriors, heroes, statesmen, adventures and demons. Famous actors playing this role include Qiu Shengrong and Yuan Shihai. Chou, most of time, play roles of wit, alert and humor. It is the roles who keep the audience laughing and improvise quips at the right moments to ease tension in some serious plays. Renowned actors playing this role include Xiao Changhua and Ma Fulu.

Facial makeup in Beijing Opera had its own pattern. A sheng or a dan has to have his or her eyebrows painted in a way that look slanted with the outer ends of eyebrows going upward, and their eyes circled with black color. As for a jing and chou, the pattern is in accordance with the disposition of the characters according to the rule of facial makeup in Beijing Opera. For example, a red face usually depicts the role’s loyalty and bravery; while a white face symbolizes a sinister role’s treachery and guile.

It is said that the complete Beijing Opera repertoire includes more than 3 800 plays. What are staged today are primarily three types, namely, traditional Beijing Operas, newly composed historical ones and modern ones.

Beijing opera, as the national opera, enjoys a high reputation both inside and outside China. Many foreigners have come to China to learn Beijing Opera, while many Beijing Opera troupes and famous opera actors and actress have frequently been invited to perform abroad and have been highly appreciated by foreign audience.