Beijing Opera Mask

Beijing Opera Index

Beijing opera and Beijing opera mask
Beijing opera, more commonly known as Peking opera to westerners, is deemed the national opera of China. The accompanying music, singing and costumes are all fascinating and artistic. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents to the audience an encyclopedia of Chinese culture as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and acrobatic fighting. Since it enjoys a higher reputation than other local operas, almost every province of China has more than one Beijing Opera troupe, which is called "piaoyou" in Chinese. This kind of opera is so popular among Chinese people, especially seniors, that even a "Beijing Opera Month" has been declared.

Beijing opera has an over 200-year history. The main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang, in Anhui and Hubei respectively and over time techniques from many other local operas were incorporated. 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.

Performance art and musical drama are deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. Though performers were once widely regarded as the lowest class in ancient China, a plethora of schools of traditional operas and dramatic arts have transcended time and still attract large audiences in the present People's Republic. The most widely known and influential is, of course, Beijing Opera, or jing ju, which is a synthesis of grace, voice, discipline, and physical agility. Over the course of history, contrary to its name, Beijing Opera has incorporated musical melodies from operas throughout China. Although it was originally a form of local theatre in north China, it was now won enormous popularity among people all over the country. Beijing and Tianjin are regarded as the hotspots in the north and Shanghai in the south.