Beijing Opera Decoder

In the traditional Peking Opera, there are four basic actor types, male, female, "painted face" and clown -- as well as several subdivisions within these categories. Chinese audiences are very familiar with each actor type and bring this understanding to the performance. They know that each character has its own particular makeup and dress. Variations on these can be highly symbolic and meaningful to the Chinese, but may be lost to Western eyes. Before you attend a performance, it is a good idea to learn something about the characters and their misical roles.

Sheng

RealAudio sample

The male, or sheng, actors play lead roles such as warriors, patriots, scholars and officials. Their faces are colored ocher but, unlike the jing, or painted face roles, their features are not obscured. The sheng is sub-divided further. Xiao sheng are effeminate young men who sing in falsetto. Lao sheng are old men that wear beards. There are also specific roles for public servants or scholars and military players, the wu sheng and the wen sheng. The wu sheng perform acrobatics in the battle scenes, while the wen sheng are more solemn and poised.

Dan

RealAudio sample

Dan are female roles, which were performed for many years by men. The women speak in a manner that is part song and part spoken word. They glide upon the stage in soft steps and often play the leading role. Older women are the lao dan -- mothers, widows, and aunts -- who wear simple makeup and sing in their natural voices. Qingyi are aristocratic women clad in elegant costumes, while the brightly-costumed hua dan are ladies' maids who act more than sing. The dao ma dan are warriors and horsewomen. Cai dan or chou dan are the comediennes and shrews.

Jing

RealAudio sample

Characters that wear an elaborate mask of oil paint or water-colors are the jing, or painted-face, roles. Jing roles are heroes, adventurers, demons, warriors and statesmen. Fu jing are pudgy characters that are often more ridiculous than heroic. All wear masks composed of highly symbolic colors and make-up lines. Facial features are deliberately exaggerated or distorted in these masks to indicate the personality of the actor to audiences. Often the mask indicates not only age and temperament, but also skills, nicknames, and status. Red face paint indicates loyalty and courage, while asymmetric facial features mean that the character is a criminal or thug. Pointed, thin eyebrows show a character is crafty, while a down-turned, unpainted mouth signifies that he is deceitful and cruel.

Chou

RealAudio sample

Chou, or clowns, are painted with a distinctive white patch over their nose ridge. Depending on the role, this area of white paint may be circular, square, diamond-shape or triangular. There are many types of clowns -- wicked clowns, buffoons, warrior clowns and old clowns. A clown's eyes, mouth, nose, brows and facial expression indicate his nature.

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Beijing Opera Decoder

In the traditional Peking Opera, there are four basic actor types, male, female, "painted face" and clown - as well as several subdivisions within these categories. In addition to these, there are also the extras, for the masses and armies. Chinese audiences are very familiar with each actor type and bring this understanding to the performance. They know that each character has its own particular makeup and dress. Variations on these can be highly symbolic and meaningful to the Chinese, but may be lost to Western eyes. Before you attend a performance, learn about the actors. Click on the pictures below to learn about the characters and to hear snippets from the Opera.

[Pictures should be clickable, resulting in the corresponding sound clip]

Sheng

RealAudio sample

The male or sheng actors play lead roles such as warriors, patriots, scholars and officials. Their faces are colored ochre but, unlike the jing, or painted face roles, their features are not obscured. The sheng is sub-divided further: Xiao sheng are effeminate young men who sing in falsetto. Lao sheng are old men that wear beards. There are also specific roles for public servants or scholars and military players, the wu sheng and the wen sheng. The wu sheng perform acrobatics in the battle scenes while the wen sheng are more solemn and poised.

Dan

RealAudio sample

Dan are female roles which were performed for many years by men. The women speak in a manner that is part song and part spoken word. They glide upon the stage in soft steps and often play the leading role. Older women are the lao dan - mothers, widows, and aunts - who wear simple makeup and sing in their natural voices. Qingyi are aristocratic women clad in elegant costumes, while the brightly-costumed hua dan are ladies' maids who act more than sing. The dao ma dan are warriors and horsewomen. Cai dan or chou dan are the comediennes and shrews.

Jing

RealAudio sample

Characters that wear a elaborate mask of oil paint or water-colors are the jing or painted-face roles. Jing roles are heroes, adventurers, demons, warriors and statesmen. Fu jing are pudgy characters that are often more ridiculous than heroic. All wear masks composed of highly symbolic colors and make-up lines. Facial features are deliberately exaggerated or distorted in these masks to indicate the personality of the actor to audiences. Often the mask indicates not only age and temperament, but also skills, nicknames, and status. Red face paint indicates loyalty and courage, while asymmetric facial features mean that the character is a criminal or thug. Pointed thin eyebrows show a character is crafty, while a down-turned, unpainted mouth signify that he is deceitful and cruel.

Chou

RealAudio sample

Chou, or clowns, are painted with a distinctive white patch over their nose ridge. Depending on the role, this area of white paint may be circular, square, diamond-shaped or triangular. There are many types of clowns - wicked clowns, buffoons, warrior clowns and old clowns. Their eyes, mouth, nose, brows and facial expressions are drawn to indicate the variety of clown.