chinese opera

Chinese Opera:  The Chinese Opera is one that combines the world of music and dance and marital arts in all in one. This opera has best of all worlds to view. There are the basic  four roles in the opera which are the female, male, the clown and the painted face (which is the strong male).  As one of the few Traditions that allowed women back into the world of opera in their form shanghai after many of years of women being outlaw it is great to see the women back in the world of performing art.  This opera children are train at a young age to become opera stars. 

Interesting facts:  Started in the Song Dynasty but the major change happen in the Yuan Dynasty. Another interesting fact : Jackie Chan started his career as a chinesee opera star.  Not only does he marvel the american eye with his martial art training but his ablity to make it look flawless.  Third interesting fact:  The colors in the face painting shows you the type of charactor you are seeing; (of coure this is played by the strong male actor) the photos below to show different faces.

 

 (different views of face painting characters)

Face painting color guide lines:

Redder: Courage, loyalty and straight forwardness

Blacker: Impulsiveness

Bluer: Cruelty

Whiter: Wickedness

 White Nose: Joviality

Peking Opera
This video clip is just one of many of chinese opera but this form is one that is most view by american todays.

Sources:

Felner, Mira and Orenstein, Claudia; The World of Theatre Traditions and Innovation, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. pg 133.

Chinese culutre: http://www.west-meet-east.com/opera.htm#ohis (web)

Peking Opera video clip: http://www.youtube.com/; web 2010