Face paint, acrobatics and romance: a guide to the complex world of Chinese opera
There are as many as 300 regional variations, including world famous Peking opera and Cantonese opera in Guangdong and Hong Kong
Chinese opera combines music, dance, martial arts, acrobatics and literary art forms. It has evolved over a period of about 1,000 years, with scholars suggesting the form became fully developed by the 13th century during the Song dynasty (960-1279).
There are as many as 300 regional variations. Peking opera, which became popular in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), is one of the most notable. These operas generally consist of wenxi (civilian plays) and wuxi (military dramas), as well as comedies, farces and dramas.
Storylines are frequently derived from classical literature as anything contemporary has traditionally been seen as too politically dangerous. Historically, for example, it was not acceptable to portray emperors or empresses of the current dynasty.
The opera’s form became more developed in the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), when there were four acts, each with a different lead actor. They often featured similar stories but with alternative endings and additional parts.
A key component of any Chinese opera is the acrobatics. Actors have a saying that “one minute’s performance on the stage takes 10 years’ practice behind the scenes”.