Beijing opera or Peking opera is a kind of Chinese opera and has a 200-year-long history. Its main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei respectively, It is believed that Beijing Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, eventually becoming more accessible to the common people.
There are four roles in Beijing Opera – Sheng(a male role, usually a leading one), Dan(female roles), Jing(painted-face roles) and Chou(Clown role). These roles have the natural features of age and sex, as well as social status, and are artificially exaggerated by makeup, costume and gestures. All but the second portray a male or masculine character. Until recently, even that of the female or feminine character was played by a male actor.
Costumes are an integral part of the Beijing Opera performance. That are called Xingtou or Xifu in Chinese. In the early days, opera costumes were mainly made of wool or coarse cloth; later, satin, crepe and silk were used, decorated with various meticulously embroidered patterns. The making of opera costumes is a special and unique stagecraft. The costume box first appeared in the Ming Dynasty, and was greatly improved in the Qing Dynasty.
Beijing Opera’s Performers have two main methods of makeup: masks and facial painting. The frequent on-stage change of masks, without the audience noticing, is a special technique, known as changing faces. Opera facial painting falls into four categories- personality makeup (facial designs, painted faces or Lian Pu), decorative makeup (decorated faces), mood makeup (changing facial designs), and pictographic makeup (animal-like facial designs).
In ancient times, Beijing Opera was performed mostly on stage in the open air, teahouses or temple courtyards. The most famous stage for the imperial of Beijing opera – Deheyuan, It’s built in the late 19th Century at the command of the Empress Dowager Cixi inside the Summer Palace in Beijing.
Nowadays, the best well-preserved wooden opera theatres are Huguang Guild Hall, Lao She Teahouse and Zhengyici Theatre, there are the home to some of the best Beijing Opera actors and opens its doors to Beijing Opera lovers, locals and tourists to share an interesting and unique opera experience.
Beijing Travel Guide