Main Roles in Beijing Opera

Beijing Opera Index

What are the main roles in Beijing Opera?
Beijing Opera is an art form that combines stylized acting with singing, dialogue and mime, acrobatic fighting and dancing. The Character roles are divided into four main types: Sheng(male); Dan(female); Jing(Painted face) and Chou (clown).

"Sheng, dan, jing, chou," for instance, are just the terms for four different types of roles. "sheng" is the positive male role, "dan" is the positive female role, "jing" is a supporting male role with striking character and "chou" is the clown. Every type has its telltale facial makeup and decoration.

Sheng is the leading male actors and are divided into lao Sheng (aged and bearded male characters, usually positive chracters); Xiao Sheng (Young Male characters with a very high artificial voice and falsetto singing and recitation), Wu Sheng (male characters skilled in acrobatic fighting and military action) and Wawasheng who play kids. Hongsheng, another category of Sheng with face painted red, mainly play Guanyu (Chinese Ares) and Zhao Kuangyin (the founder of the Song dynasty).

Dan refers to female roles. Formerly, the term meant female impersonator. It is divided into many categories. Lao Dan refers to elderly, dignified ladies with emphasis on singing in a loud voice and wearing light facial makeup. The most important category, Qingyi usually play respectable and decent ladies in elegant costumes. Hua dan represent lively and clever young girls, usually in short costumes. Wudan usually play military or non-military women capable of martial arts. Caidan is the female comedians.

Jing, mostly male, refers to the roles with painted faces, who sing in a loud, booming voice. Jing is generally categorized into Zhengjing, Fujing and Wujing. They play either the part of positive characters laying stress on a singing or the part of straightforward (sometimes cruel or sly) characters with emphasis on recitation and movements.

Chou refers to clowns who are characterized by a white patch on the nose. Usually white patches of different shape and size mean roles of different character. They are not definitely rascals, while most of the time they play roles of wit, alert and humor. It is them who keep the audience laughing and to improvise quips at the right moments to ease tension in some serious plays.