Peking opera of China is a national treasure which dates back to the year 1790. That year four local opera troupes of Anhui Province came to Beijing on a performance tour on the order of the imperial court. The tour was a hit and the troupes stayed. The artists absorbed the tunes of the Hubei local opera and drew on the best of Kun Qu, Qin Qiang and Bang Zi and other local operas.
With a history of over 200 years, Beijing Opera, which originated in Beijing, is the operatic form commanding the biggest following. It combines acting, dialogue, singing, music, dancing and acrobatics, and its roles can be classified in four categories: sheng, dan, jing and chou. In acting and acrobatics, different roles follow different patterns, all rather exaggerated, suggestive and symbolic. The actions of opening a door, going up the stairs, rowing a boat or climbing a hill, for instance, are done purely through the mime-like movements of the actors without the help of props.
The costumes in Peking opera are graceful, magnificent, elegant and brilliant, most of which are made in handicraft embroidery. As the traditional Chinese pattern is adopted, the costumes are of a high aesthetic value.
The repertoire of Peking opera is mainly engaged in fairy tales of preceding dynasties, important historical events, emperors, ministers and generals, geniuses and great beauties, from the ancient times to Yao, Shun, Yu, the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period and the dynasties of Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing.
The outstanding Beijing Opera actor Mei Lanfang (1894--1961) was a great artist who excelled in singing, recitation and dancing and had a fine understanding of music, costumes and make-up. This creative actor formed a school of his own which has been very influential in the Contemporary operatic field. His masterpieces include A Woman Feigning Madness, The Drunken Beauty and The King Bids Farewell to His Concubine. Among other well-known Beijing Opera actors are Cheng Yanqiu, Ma Lianliang, Zhou Xinfang and Zhang Junqiu.
