Peking Opera is a combination of several styles of Chinese opera.
The metamorphosis started during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), about two hundred years ago.
Peking Opera focuses on historical events, legends about emperors, ministers, generals, geniuses and great beauties.
Performances are a combination of singing, dialogue, pantomime and acrobatic fighting and dancing.
Today, Peking Opera is considered the highest expression of Chinese culture.
The origins of Peking Opera did not begin in Peking (Beijing). The opera had its start in the Chinese provinces of Anhui and Hubei.
Experts say the opera was born in 1790 and was originally staged for the royal family and then the public.
There are thousands of these operas that cover the history and literature of China. Peking operas can be divided into two categories.
“Civil” operas focus on singing while “Martial” operas feature acrobatics and stunts. Some are a combination of both.
If Peking Opera interests you, see Chinese Yu Opera with Mao Wei-tao
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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of My Splendid Concubine [3rd edition]. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. This is the love story Sir Robert Hart did not want the world to discover.
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I didn’t realize it. This is your blog, Mr. Lloyd. Enjoyed the operas. Didn’t hear singing in every one. Surprised. There is a lot of dancing.
I’m glad you enjoyed the operas, Hatti.