{"id":7722,"date":"2017-12-08T12:53:23","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T04:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/?p=7722"},"modified":"2022-06-03T18:57:53","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T10:57:53","slug":"conventions-peking-opera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/conventions-peking-opera\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fascinating Conventions of Peking Opera"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chinese opera <\/span>\u4e2d\u56fd\u620f\u5267<\/span><\/a> (zh\u014dng gu\u00f3 x\u00ec<\/span> j\u00f9) has existed for hundreds of years, and has its own conventions and individual style. Whilst there are various different types of Chinese opera, in the modern-day, Beijing or <\/span>Peking Opera is the most common type<\/span><\/a> of opera and is said to be an amalgamation of the different opera styles in China.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese operas are usually based on historical or mythical stories from the past and are a dramatic combination of music, singing, martial arts, and acrobatics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For foreigners, and even contemporary Chinese people, the meaning behind a Chinese opera often goes misunderstood, however, many Jingju actors often have years of training before being allowed to perform on stage.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peking Opera <\/span>\u4eac\u5267<\/span><\/a> (j\u012bng<\/span> j\u00f9) became popular at the end of the Qing Dynasty when the general public also became interested in opera. In the early 20th century, Peking Opera first went abroad to Japan, the United States, and Russia. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being part of an opera troupe <\/span>\u620f\u73ed\u5b50<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>x\u00ec <\/span>b\u0101n<\/span> zi)<\/span> is often something that is passed down through a family, so if your father and grandfather were involved in opera, then you were expected to join also. <\/span>Training for children started at a young age<\/span><\/a> and was often brutal, studying gymnastics, acrobatics, martial arts, singing and acting techniques from 5 am every morning.   <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peking Opera Conventions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every <\/span>movement, gesture, and glance has symbolic meaning<\/span><\/a> in Peking opera and is based on<\/span> imitation or mime <\/span>\u6a21\u4eff<\/span><\/a> (m\u00f3<\/span> f\u01ceng). For example, an actor walking around in a circle suggests a long journey. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peking Opera Costume Conventions<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Originally, Peking Opera costumes were divided into the \u2018Upper and Lower Five Colours\u2019 <\/span>\u4e0a\u4e0b\u4e94\u8272<\/span><\/a> (sh\u00e0ng<\/span> xi\u00e0 w\u01d4 s\u00e8). The Top Five Colours <\/span>\u4e0a\u4e94\u8272<\/span><\/a> (sh\u00e0ng w\u01d4 s\u00e8) were red, yellow, black, green, and white whilst the Bottom Five <\/span>\u4e0b\u4e94\u8272<\/span><\/a> (xi\u00e0 w\u01d4 s\u00e8) were blue, pink, purple, <\/span>\u79cb\u9999<\/span><\/a> (qi\u016b xi\u0101ng) colors between grass green and olive green and <\/span>\u768e\u6708<\/span><\/a> (ji\u01ceo<\/span> yu\u00e8) colors between river blue and blue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So for example, each costume color is created with a specific meaning in mind that the audience, having knowledge of these conventions will understand immediately: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n