Such attention to details led the Peking Opera to its heyday after the Qing Dynasty collapsed.

She was also a strict spectator, who would never miss even the slightest mistake in the pronunciations or the movements. Many aristocrats at that time not only loved the Peking Opera, but also promoted the development of its aestheticism.įor instance, Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled the Qing Dynasty for 47 years, was obsessed with the Peking Opera, and even used to refine the scripts herself. It later absorbed the essences of other operas, including Qinqiang of Shaanxi Province, Kunqu of southern China and the local opera of Beijing, and finally bred a new art form – the Peking Opera.īeing favored by the royals of the Qing Dynasty undoubtedly boosted the development of the new art form. The origin of the Peking Opera could be traced back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when the four great Anhui troupes brought their local Anhui opera, also known as Huiju, to Beijing for celebrations of Emperor Qianlong’s birthday.

Today, many Chinese artists are still working hard in their own way to honor it.įrom origin to heyday: the rise of a new genre In 2010, the art form was added to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list, injecting new impetus into the ancient art. However, the artists never stopped trying to return it to its former glory. Mei Lanfang, one of the greatest Peking Opera artists, took the traditional Chinese art abroad for the first time in the early 20th century, amazing many foreigners with his beautiful voice, subtle performances and elegant gestures.ĭespite its great charm, the opera gradually declined and retreated from the daily lives of most Chinese for many years. However, only a century ago, the Peking Opera was no less popular than today’s pop music, while the artists were welcomed and loved by a large amount of fans who were willing to spend a fortune for a ticket to their performances. Some may even be able to hum a few lines or talk about their favorite artists, but for most people, it remains a classic art form that stays distant from everyday life. When mentioning the Peking Opera, a few key words come to mind for most Chinese: national quintessence, traditional culture, dazzling costumes and makeup. A student is dressed as Yangguifei, a famous concubine from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) at Guangraolu Primary School in Qingdao city of Shandong Province(Photo/Asianewsphoto)

Peking opera origin