Welcome
On this website we hope to bring together a bunch of information about the different kinds of Chinese Opera. Since there seems to be a small amount of English materials on this topic, this site is in both English and Chinese. Feel free to pick a type of Opera from the left menu to learn more, or read below for a general synopsis of what Chinese Opera is about.
History
Chinese Opera dates back to around 1100B.C. Throughout the many years it has changed dramatically as it spread all over China. Due to the limited ability of traveling far distances with an entire theater troupe, different styles started to develop in certain regions around cities and areas. Even today Chinese Opera is still a very popular art form and a cultural connection to the past for many Chinese.
Stage types and Props
Just like many other types of opera, Chinese Opera uses a raised platform stage with 3 open sides. The back, or fourth side, is generally covered with a curtain or wall and leads to an area unable to be seen from the audience. There are very few elements used in a typical scene. A chair or table may be common, but generally not much more.
Props carry a special type of symbolism. Instead of actually trying to make the scene display a boat on a river, or a fast horse chase, the actors use a boat oar or a horsewhip. When held in the hand, the actors will act as if they are interacting with that scenes element created the illusion of it really being there.
Roles
There are 4 types of roles within the Chinese opera. Each of these roles has a few variations within it, but overall there are relatively few different types of characters. This limited number of possibilities benefits the audience by being able to determine a characters personality quickly based on their appearance and role type.
The "Chou" role is typically a clown role. This character can be a female or a male and generally shows off low intelligence. They create humor and sometimes help involved the audience into the actual environment of the opera.
The "Ching" role is the most recognizable type of character. With their heavily painted faces they display their motives and feelings. This sort of role is a very deep voiced male.
The "Dan" role is the most common female role. Often the Dan role is played by a man. This role can vary from an old wise female, to a martial arts expert.
The "Sheng" is a male with an unpainted face. Typically they are a main character in an opera and range on their personality just like the Dan role.
The Music
Music within an opera is very important. It helps to carry the mood or add suspense to a battle. Typically instruments to a Chinese Operas orchestra are the hu-chin, er-hu, san-hsien, and yueh-chin. These string instruments combined with the ti, sheng, and so-na (the wind section) make up a type of musical style that is very closely depicted as Chinese style. Often these instruments are even heard in the music of current day films within China due to their historic importance within the performance arts.
Here is a short video clip that is rather interesting as the main actors preforming are actually children. It's amusing to see the children acting in adult roles and to be so talented with a difficult art form at a young age.