The Beijing Opera is true reach back into ancient times. This Opera is considered the grandest in all of China. It is the largest and most developed. It is been giving hundreds of shows each year for a 160 years. It has been the true leader in Chinese Opera giving this dramatic art many of it’s first in repertoires and artists. There has been many influences that have made it to the shows. The main influence come from the Huiban drama of the 18th century. They follow a rather strict guideline to how they prepare, organize and present each show.
These Opera’s are a combination of four different talents. All performers must be able to sing, speak, dance and do martial arts. All together, these mediums create the whole picture and convey the whole story being told. There are a few elements of the Opera. Sheng, Dan and Jing are some of the character categories that play. Sheng, is the name of the male characters, such as, Lao Sheng. Lao Sheng is the name of a male character who is middle-aged. Dan, is the female common name. Huadan is the little girl character who is the low society child. Jing, is the usually male characters who often play the villain or other unique role.
Lianpu, is the name of the dramatic face paint that this Opera is known for. It is called the picture of hearts. It is created to exaggerate the moods and emotions of the character so the audience will not have any question who the character represents in the story. There are particular formats followed in the face painting. The paint around the eyes, cheeks and forehead are often fanned out like butterfly wings. The colors used vary depending on who the character is and what they want to represent. Red means loyalty, Black means honesty, White signifies cattiness. There are many more names of the Beijing Opera, and one could spend a while learning about the many properties that make up this wonderful production. Learn a little bit and then check into one of the five star Beijing hotels and get over to the Opera house for a fantastic show.