"Only 200 years" of history, yet a large part of China's population considers it the quintessence of their millennia-old culture. Beijing Opera is the emblematic form of theatrical expression in the Middle Kingdom.

(Simplified Mandarin: 京剧 ; Traditional Mandarin: 京劇 ; Pinyin: Jīngjù)

In Chine, young people are less drawn to it these days, yet everyone knows what Beijing Opera is. Major singers such as Zhou Jielun or A Xin have made explicit references to it in their songs.

A traditional spectacle, Beijing Opera is less popular than during its heyday, yet remains considered the finest symbol of Chinese culture. It could be presented as China's most refined art form.

This form of scenic expression is believed to have emerged around 1790 in Beijing, born from a synthesis of ancient theatrical styles. A mere 200 years of history, but enormous popularity stemming from its adoption across all social classes, rich and poor alike.

The name given to this art is nonetheless misleading: its origins are thought to lie rather in the provinces of Anhui and Hubei. History tells us that around 1790, four troupes from Anhui came to perform in the capital. They joined forces, as was often the case, with the major troupes from Hubei. The union of these talents gave birth to Beijing Opera.

What is Beijing Opera?

This emblematic spectacle in Chine blends music, acrobatic dance, theater, and martial choreographies into a single performance. The scenarios are drawn directly from history and legendary folklore.

Within Chinese opera, there are as many variants as there are dialects in Chine. Beijing Opera nonetheless remains the reference point, and troupes performing it can be found throughout Chine, though Beijing and Tianjin are the benchmark cities in the north, and Shanghai in the south.

During performances, gesture is highly symbolic. The makeup and costumes, particularly their colors, provide clues about the characters (social status, personality). These characters typically hail from the pantheon and national or regional mythologies. They may be mortal humans, gods, demons, or ghosts, and heroes are often idealized and embody shared moral values.

Heroes of the Chinese Pantheon

The intensely dramatic plots highlight virtuous people, integrity, and ideals. Hence the consistently happy endings, and satire of tyrannical or corrupt characters. Good characters are often idealized, the bad ones caricatured.

In literary pieces, the primary interest lies in the singing and the relationship between protagonists. In more warlike epics, it is dance, acrobatics, and martial arts that form the heart of the actors' performance. The repertoire, inspired by history and legend, is extremely rich: there are no fewer than 1,400 pieces. As for the language used, it is the Beijing dialect for the most traditional productions.

Civilized Pieces and Martial Pieces

Beijing Opera pieces are divided into two categories: civilized pieces where dialogue and singing predominate, and martial pieces, where acrobatics and combat take center stage. Some pieces blend both types.

Performance techniques include Chang (singing), Nian (dialogue), Zuo (acting), and Da (martial arts). The actor or actress sings in accompaniment to the melody of "xipi" (music expressing vivid emotion) or "erhuang" (music expressing deep sadness).