Beijing

Opera
Introduc
tion
It is generally accepted 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,
and eventually
became more
accessible
to the common
people.
Through a period of more
than half a century
of combination and
integration
of various kinds of opera
there evolved the present
Beijing opera.
Beijing Opera got its two
main melodies,
XiPi and ErHuang,
from Anhui and Hubei
operas.
In the ancient times,
Beijing 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,
in order to be heard over
the crowds.
The costumes were a
garish collection
of sharply contrasting
colors
because the stages were
dim
and lit only by oil lamps.
 The
Band
The Beijing opera band
mainly consists of
orchestra band
and
percussion band.
The commonly used percussion
instruments include
castanets,
drums,
gongs
and cymbals.
The orchestral instruments are
mainly composed of
Erhu,
Huqin,
Yueqin,
Sheng (reed pipe),
Pipa (lute).
 The
Costumes
We can learn from the
costumes
that Beijing opera never
shows the original
appearance of life.
On the stage,
there is no difference
between seasons,
Mang 蟒
Grande toilette of
emperors,
generals ministers
and other royal
members
Pi 帔
Dishabille of
emperors, ministers
and wealthy people
Kao 靠
Military people
Zhe 褶
Almost all kinds
of people
Long suit 长衣
Kaichang 开氅—— generals &
ministers
Gongzhuang 宫装 —— imperial
concubines and princesses
Guanyi 官衣 —— civilians, new top
scholar and bridegroom
Jianyi 箭衣 —— emperors, generals
and heroes
Short suit 短衣
acrobatic fighting roles
Wealthy suit 富贵
衣
Poor people who will be rich
and respectable later
Fittings 配件
Gilet 坎肩
Cloke 斗篷
Water-sleeve 水袖
Head fitting 盔头
Coronet 冠
Helmet 盔
Hat 帽
Coif 巾
Shoes 靴鞋
Thick-sole shoes 厚底靴

Thin-sole shoes 薄底靴

Fuzi shoes 夫子履

Colored shoes 彩鞋

Qi shoes 旗鞋

Jiao 蹻
 Facial
Painting
Red
Brave
Upright
Loyal
Pink
Old
Noble character
High prestige
Great virtue
Watery
White
Sinister
Treacherous
Guileful
Oily
White
Self-conceited
Arrogant
Presuming
Gree
n
Surly
Stubborn
Impetuous
Yello
w
Brave
Atrocious
Blue
Valoro
us
Tamele
Black
Upright
fair-minded

Or
Impetuous
rash
Golde
n
Gods
Ghosts
Monsters
Sheng
Dan
Jing
Sheng
Laosheng
Xiaosheng
Wusheng
Wawasheng
Hongsheng
Dan
Laodan
Caidan
Wudan
Qingyi
Huadan
Jing
Zhengjing
Fujing
Wujing
Ch
ou