Peking opera, or Beijing opera, is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing in the mid-Qing dynasty and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.

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• also known as Pingju or 京剧 Jingxi in the Chinese
language is one of the famous operas in China.
• The “Four Great Anhui Troupes” brought the Anhui
Opera to Beijing in 1790.
• It was originally performed for the court to
entertain the emperor. But later on, it was open to
the public.
• It is a scenic art integrating music, performance,
literature, aria, and face painting.
PEKING OPERA

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• The music of Peking opera is mainly orchestral
music and percussion instruments that provide
strongly rhythmical accompaniment.
• A dramatic play that mainly infuses four artistic
methods: singing, dialogue, dancing, and martial
arts.
• In singing, it is utilized to intensify the appeal of
the artist by all kinds of tones.
PEKING OPERA

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• It has 2 main styles of music;
⚬ ERH-HUANG and HIS-P’L -they are
similar but differ in key. His-p’l has a
lower sound than Erh-huang.
• FAN-PAN Technique - used for sorrowful
songs and sung by bearded characters.
PEKING OPERA

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MUSICAL
INSTRUMENT
PEKING OPERA

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THE 4 MAIN
CHARACTERS
PEKING OPERA

11. SHENG 生
- a common name for a male
character

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• Laosheng - or “elderly scholar”
is one of the most prominent
character types in Peking
Opera. In fact, during the early
period of Peking Opera
laosheng was the dominant
role category. It includes
middle-aged or old men, who
mostly wear an artificial beard.

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• Xiaosheng - is a handsome
young male with no beard in
Peking Opera roles. The role
plays in a high-pitched and
shrill voice, with sudden
breaks from his high-pitched
voice to represent the voice-
changing period of
adolescence.

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• Wusheng - is a martial
character for roles involving
combat. They are highly trained
in acrobatics and have a natural
voice when singing. Troupes
will always have a lasting actor.
A xiaosheng actor may also be
added to play roles fitting his
age.

15. DAN 生
-a common name for a female
character.

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• Laodan - plays an old and
clever woman. Unlike
other female roles,
Laodan wears no make-
up, and her costume is
more subdued in color and
design. Her voice is natural
and not high-pitched.

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• Wudan - is a female
acrobatic role, and
requires a high standard
of acrobatics. The
costume of the role is
simple and clothing is
convenient for her
movements.
•

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• Daomadan - is a female
warrior role in Peking Opera.
Like the male role of
Wusheng, Daomadan actors
train mainly for action,
singing, and performing
skillfully. The features of the
role are the head-dress and
military weapons.

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• Qingyi - is the main woman
role in traditional Chinese
drama. Plays dignified,
serious, and decent
characters, which are mostly
wives or mothers. Feature a
small range of motion, and
singing with a pure and high-
pitched quality.

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• Huadan - is the vivacious and
unmarried woman role
inPeking Opera. Compared
to a Qingyi, a Huadan is not
of such a high social class,
and she will take the
attention of the audience
with her coy, coquettish, and
quicker movements.

21. JING 净
-is a painted-face male role. can be played either a
primary or secondary role depending on the
repertoire.
The 3 main types of Jing roles are:
• a. Dongchui a loyal general with a black
face who excels in singing
• b. Jiazi a complex character played by a
skilled actor
• c. Wujing a martial and acrobatic
character

22. CHOU 丑
-is a male clown role and plays a secondary
role in a troupe.
Chou characters do not sing frequently, their
arias feature a large amount of improvisation.
a. Wen Chou is a civilian role such as merchants
and jailers,
b. Wu Chou is one of the most demanding
roles because it combines comic acting,
acrobatics, and a strong voice.

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MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
PEKING OPERA

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• Laosheng - or “elderly scholar”
is one of the most prominent
character types in Peking
Opera. In fact, during the early
period of Peking Opera
laosheng was the dominant
role category. It includes
middle-aged or old men, who
mostly wear an artificial beard.