Peking Opera

Peking Opera has over a 200 year history. It originally came to Beijing in 1790 but did not fully form until 1845. It’s a form of traditional art that uses music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. When it was originally created it was not for the public’s enjoyment. However, during the development under Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi the performance became more accessible to the common people. Even though today the Peking Opera is performed indoors it hasn’t always been that way. In the earlier stages of the Peking Opera the performances were performed in open-air stages. The bright colors of their costumes were used so the audience could see the performers on the dimly lit stages. The Peking Opera was also initially an exclusive male pursuit. Women didn’t come start appearing on the stage until late 1800’s. Women were soon used regularly in performances and regarded as having talents as good as males. The first female Peking Opera was opened in Shanghai.

In a Peking Opera performance there are four main roles performed: Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou. Sheng are the leading male roles, Dan are the female roles, Jing are usually mostly male roles that play the warrior or hero role, and Chou are the clowns in the performance with a white nose. You can tell a characters role in the play by their facial paintings, which has become an art form.

http://www.asiarecipe.com/chiopera.html