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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
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Peking Opera
Costumes:
Peking Opera costumes are called Xngtou () or,
more popularly, Xifu () in Chinese. The origins of
Peking Opera costumes can be traced back to the mid-
14th century when operatic precursors first began to
experiment with large, ornate articles of clothing. Since
each dynasty in Chinese history had its own unique
operatic costume, the number of costumes was too great
for performers to master. Hence, artists and costume
designers worked together to create costumes that would
be unwieldy on stage and acceptable no matter when or
where the action was supposed to take place.
Peking Opera
In Peking opera, costumes take on added importance
due to scarcity of props. Costumes distinguish the rank
of each character being played. The robe worn by the
classes is called a mng (), or python robe. It often
features brilliant colors and rich embroidery, but there
are differences between these costumes and this is
shown by the design of the dragon. There is a dragon,
opening its mouth on the mng for the emperor, while
the dragon on the mng for the ministers and generals
has its mouth closed. The dragons on the costume of the
civil officials are gentle and quiet, while the ones on the
costume of the martial officials are bold and mighty.
Peking Opera
The colors of all costumes are important. For example,
the emperor is usually the only person to wear yellow,
and on his Mang-pao the embroidered dragons always
fly upwards. If any other officials wear the yellow, their
dragons must fly downwards. The other colors of the
robes are red, green, orange, white, black, and blue.
Each color represents a different rank. Red denotes
faithful army commanders, green is for generals and
statesmen, orange for older statesmen, white for young
generals and ministers, blue for dishonest statesmen,
and black for the brave, honest, and upright (but in some
situations black can mean poverty).
Peking Opera
The importance of the colors comes from older times
when dye was a commodity and only the nobility were
allowed to wear the primary colors while the common
citizens had to wear blended colors. Each color is tied to
the five elements (water, earth, fire, wood, and metal),
which are also linked to the five directions (the Chinese
compass includes center). Red is the south (fire), black
is the north (water), white is the west (metal), blue and
green are east (wood), and yellow is the center (earth).
Because of these ties to the elements and directions, the
different personality types associated with each color
were created.
Peking Opera
On formal occasions, the nobility wear the Mang-pao robe. This
costume is for emperors and important officials, lower officials may
wear the kuanyi, a simple gown with patches of embroidery on both
the front and back. All other characters, and officials on informal
occasions, wear the chezi, a basic gown with varying levels of
embroidery and no jade girdle to denote rank. All three types of
gowns have water sleeves, long flowing sleeves that can be flicked
and waved like water, attached to facilitate emotive gestures.
Women and peasant warriors wear pants, with short jackets that are
tied at the waist.
Another robe for nobility is the tieh-ts, which is the everyday garb of
the higher officials. It is usually made of silk or satin and buttoned to
one side.
Peking Opera
Opera shoes: A wide variety of shoes and boots are used
in opera performance, mainly platform boots (houdixue),
tiger-headed boots (hutouxue), thin-soled combat
footwear made of black satin (kuaixue), fish-head
pugilist's shoes, laced boxer's shoes, etc.
Mang-pao robe
Peking Opera
Jade girdle
Peking Opera
Stage settings:
In the past, stages in most Chinese theaters were square
platforms exposed to the audience on three, sometimes
four, sides. In the case of a fully exposed stage,
performances could be watched from the back as well as
sides and front. An embroidered curtain known as a
shoujiu was hung above the platform, dividing into two
parts: the back stage and the stage.
In front of the curtain was placed a table on which were laid
various musical instruments to be used during the
performance. Musicians were seated nearby. That table,
together with musicians, occupied a part of the facade of
the stage and could be seen by the audience. For this
reason, Beijing Opera orchestras have traditionally been
known as changmian, which means stage set-up.
Peking Opera
In Peking Opera, audiences are given great room for
imagination; the props traditionally included only "a table
and two chairs". In modern plays, a painted stage-curtain
is often set in the back picturing the location where the
scene takes place. While performing, actors and
actresses use many different tools and objects, such as
whips, trays, weapons, boxes and others. According to
their position on the stage and the way the performer
interacts with them, these objects can represent a variety
of concrete things and abstract concepts. They are highly
symbolic and the participation of the audience is always
required in order to understand their function in different
situations.
Peking Opera
Means of Artistic Presentation:
Beijing Opera presents dramatic plays and figures
mainly by infusing four artistic methods:
Singing: Utilized to intensify the appeal of the art by all
kinds of tones. Goes hand in hand with the opera band
which consists of an orchestra and percussion band. The
former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while
the latter provides the right atmosphere for battle
scenes.
There are six main types of song lyrics in Peking opera:
emotive, condemnatory, narrative, descriptive, disputive,
and "shared space separate sensations" lyrics. Each
type uses the same basic lyrical structure, differing only
in kind and degree of emotions portrayed.
Milnfng Theater
Peking Opera
Famous Peking Opera
Houses:
Liyun Theater
Chng'n Grand
Theater
Peking Opera
Famous Peking Opera Performers:
Mei Lanfang: He was born in the late Qing Dynasty in 1894
and was a native of Jiangsu province.
His grandfather Mei Qiaoling was a famous female roles
actor in the late Qing Dynasty. His father, Mingrui, played
Xiaosheng roles, and later changed to Dan roles. His
mother, Changyu, was the eldest daughter of Yang
Longshou, a famous Sheng role actor.
He started to learn opera when he was 8 years old, and had
Zhu Xiaoxia, a well-known Xiaosheng actor, as his master.
Peking Opera
Mei Lanfang first performed on stage when he 11 years
old. His stage name was Lanfang. A name he began to
use after he turned 16.
His singing, voice overs, dance, music and makeup, finally
created his own unique style called Mei Pai, and a
school of this name. He became the best of the four
famous Dan actors. I
Mei Lanfang achieved great success on the stage, and
attracted the attention by Westerners. He was invited
many times to perform in Japan, the United States, and
the Soviet Union. He got a doctorate in literature from
the University of Southern California.
Mei Lanfang was good at playing Dan roles. He played the
woman role "Qingyi.
Peking Opera
Tan Xinpei: He was born in 1847 in the Qing Dynasty. He
mainly played Laosheng roles. When he was 10 years old, he
began to learn opera. After many years hard work and
practice, he got his chance to put on his first show in 1863.
Tan Xinpei created a large number of artistic images in his life.
He carefully observed characters' identity and temperament,
so that each play closely resembled the original.
He not only paid attention to appearance, but also created
unique features in singing and performing when shaping the
character. He opened a new world of opera performce for
Laosheng roles.
His way of performing became popular, and after more than
half a century many Laosheng actors imitated him. The
"Tanpai style and school takes after his name.
Peking Opera
Ma Lianliang: He was born in the late Qing Dynasty in
Beijing, on February 28, 1901. He is also well known for
playing Laosheng.
He grew up in an opera actors family, so, deeply influenced by
his family, he studied in Xiliancheng Opera School when he
was 9 years old.
After 14 years of study he taught his first class, and finally
developed a unique performing school, known as Ma
School. His performances reached their peak period
between the 1920s and the 1960s.
The singing style of Ma Lianliang is based on the style of Tan
Xinpei, and combined with his own features, he broke out of
the traditional way of singing, and developed his own style. It
was quite different to other Laosheng actors. His unique style
of singing created a new era in Beijing opera, and became
popular among the locals.
Peking Opera
Zhou Xinfang: Zhou Xinfang was grew up in an artists
family, and is counted as one of the greatest artists of
Beijing opera. He played Laosheng roles and created a
new style called Qi Pai, the name taken from his stage
name Qi Lin (the unicorn boy, or seven-year-old boy).
The majority of audiences loved this new style for his
special husky singing voice. He first performed on the
stage at 7 years old, and played a leading role when he
was 13 years old. He performed with Mei Lanfang.
Zhou Xinfang was reputed for his consummate skills.
Although he was not born with a good voice, he still
became good at singing, his voice loud and broad, husky
but not hoarse, with vigorous bass notes. He particularly
paid attention to express the characters emotions.
Peking Opera
Shang Xiaoyun: Shang Xiaoyun was a famous Beijing
Opera artist and a great scholar. He was born in 1899, a
native of Hebei province, formerly known as Quande.
He was descended from the South King in the Qing
Dynasty.
He studied Beijing opera with Li Chunfu as his master,
and played Laosheng , but later changed to playing
Qingyi roles .
He put on his first performance in Beijing, and got
praised for his Qingyi roles. He enriched his performing
style, while creaing and exploring the world of opera art.
He finally developed his own school called "Shang
Paian", important moment in Beijing opera history.
Peking Opera
Yan Jupeng: Yan Jupeng was a renowned Laosheng
and the founder of the Yan School. He was a famous
Beijing Opera amateur before he became a professional
opera actor.
He studied from the master Tan Xinpei and developed
his own singing style, which emphasized tones. His
singing was mild and smooth. His popular plays are
"Mourning Zhou Yu" and "Giving Xu Zhou". His son Yan
Shaopeng, daughter-in-law Yan Xingpeng, learned from
his style of performing.
Peking Opera
Xun Huisheng: As one of the four famous female role
players in China, Xun Huisheng got a reputation for his
lively performances of Dan roles, He created his own
school named Xun School. His performing style
focused on the great combination of life and art, with
consistent facial expressions and gestures. He made a
significant contribution to Beijing opera
Peking Opera
Cheng Yanqiu: Cheng Yanqiu is one of the four famous
Dan actors in China, and founder of the Cheng School.
From 1925 to 1938, Chen was in the golden age of his
career. He was a playwright, performer, and director, and
was praised as a strong artist.
His works featured creativity, emphasis on singing
phonology, four tones pronunciation, and the mild and
indirect singing style of his unique voice. Cheng Yanqiu
demonstrated a complete style, including expression of
the eyes, gestures, footsteps, and finger movements,
with a series of unique characteristics. His famous plays
include Unicorn-Trapping Purse".
Peking Opera
Bibliography:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_opera
http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingInformation/BeijingsHistory/t1137406.htm
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-10/29/content_44014.htm
http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/traditional-operas.htm
http://chinavine.org/2012/06/20/the-peking-opera-characters-in-the-peking-
opera/
http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/beijing-opera/roles.htm
http://www.chinatraveldesigner.com/travel-guide/culture/chinese-opera/peking-
opera-roles.htm
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-09/24/content_27354.htm
http://chinavine.org/2012/06/20/the-peking-opera-costumes-and-colors/
http://www.pekingopera.eu/pekingopera-en.html
http://www.mybeijingchina.com/travel-guide/beijing-opera/famous-player.htm