Beijing opera – the inheritance of Chinese quintessence

1、Introduction to Intangible Cultural Heritage

Peking Opera, also known as Pingju, Jingxi, etc., is China’s “national opera” and is praised as the “Oriental Opera”. In 2006, it was listed as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage; in 2010, it was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List (List) and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Peking Opera still has a great influence in China and even in the world, and is a well-deserved treasure of Chinese culture. For many, Beijing opera remains an iconic symbol of this cultural heritage.

2、Historical Development

Peking Opera has a profound historical heritage of more than 200 years and has created many “firsts” in Chinese drama. Peking Opera traces its roots to Hui Opera, a folk art form that flourished in the lower Yangtze region during the early Qing era. It captivated the population and gained wide popularity then.

Hui Opera troupes, due to their high mobility, brought the four major performances – Sanqing, Sixi, Chuntai, and Hechun – from the south to Beijing. The performers often came into contact with other types of dramas and cooperated with Han Opera artists from Hubei. They accepted some repertoires, tunes and performance methods of Kunqu Opera and Qinqiang Opera, and absorbed some local folk tunes. In this grand intersection, the style of Beijing Opera was gradually formed.

3、Peking Opera Characteristics

The use of roles. Peking Opera roles can be roughly divided into five major roles: Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou according to the gender, age, personality and social status of the performing roles. Each role has its own specific makeup, costumes, performance style and singing style. Through these external characteristics, the audience can see the basic attributes of the role at a glance even before the performance begins. One of the remarkable aspects of Beijing opera is the diversity and specificity of these roles.

4、The composition of stage performances

The four artistic techniques of Peking Opera performance are also the four basic skills of Peking Opera performance: singing, reciting, acting, and fighting. “Singing” refers to singing, and “reading” refers to musical recitation. The two complement each other and constitute “singing”, one of the two major elements of Peking Opera performance art; “acting” refers to dance-like body movements, and “fighting” refers to the skills of fighting and tumbling. The two are combined to constitute “dance”, one of the two major elements of Peking Opera performance art.

With one song and one dance, the actors interpret the joys and sorrows of the story vividly through different singing skills and body expressions. The music system of Peking Opera is mainly composed of two major voices, Xipi and Erhuang. Xipi is bright and high-pitched, strong and upright, expressing emotions such as joy and firmness;

Erhuang is calm and steady, concise and serious. Their passionate and unrestrained, or lingering expressions deeply express the inner emotions of the characters. The accompaniment instruments include Jinghu, gongs and drums, etc. Their cooperation perfectly sets off the atmosphere of the plot, making the performance of Beijing opera more vivid and three-dimensional. Peking Opera mainly performs historical stories, and the accompaniment is divided into two categories: Wenchang and Wuchang.

5、Performance of Costumes and Makeup

The costumes of Peking Opera are gorgeous and complex, and every stitch and thread contains rich cultural significance. Different costume colors, patterns and accessories not only reflect the identity and status of the characters, but also add to the visual effects of the stage.

The stage layout pursues simplicity but not simplification. Through symbolic scenery and props, combined with the performance of the actors, a myriad of changing scenes are created, so that unlimited imagination can be displayed in a limited space. In the role performance, some specific props and certain actions are also used to enrich the vividness of the characters and the story, which is truly appreciated by both the refined and the popular. The aesthetic aspect of Beijing opera not only includes costumes but also the imaginative stage setup.

6、Related terms

Excerpts: refers to a small play with a complete storyline, which is composed of one or several scenes, has an independent system or is divided into one or several scenes of a full-length drama.

Full-length drama: refers to a complete version of a drama, also known as “Benxi” or “Zhengju”, with a complete beginning and end.

Lianben drama: It cannot be performed in one time and is performed in several times.

Liyuan: Liyuan was originally a place name in Chang’an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. Because Emperor Minghuang of Tang once trained musicians here, it later became a synonym for an art organization. In my country, opera troupes and theater groups are usually called “Liyuan”, and opera actors are called “Liyuan children.” Many performers are proud to be part of the Beijing opera community known as Liyuan.

7、Inheritance and Protection

Facing the rapid changes in modern society, Peking Opera is also actively seeking a balance between inheritance and innovation. Old artists are still struggling on the front line of inheritance, preserving the original flavor of traditional skills through master-apprentice teaching and other methods to ensure the continuation of classic repertoires.

Young Peking Opera artists are incorporating modern elements into traditional performances. They combine modern technology with stage art and create new scripts reflecting contemporary life. This modernization keeps Peking Opera relevant and attracts young audiences.

One of China’s traditional arts, Peking Opera, shows Chinese civilization’s traits of continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peace. Its charm, “words are finite but meanings are infinite,” merits a visit to the theater for full appreciation.The legacy of Beijing opera, both preserved and innovative, captures the essence of Chinese cultural prowess.