168 CultureShock! China
Chinese opera evolved from folk songs, dances, talking,
antimasque, and especially distinctive dialectical music.
Gradually, it combined music, art and literature into one
performance on the stage. These operas are accompanied
by traditional musical instruments like the lute, the gong and
the erhu. During the opera, actors present unique melodies
and dialogues which are beautifully written and of high
literary value. Combining the music, dialogue, costumes and
symbolic head and body movements, Chinese opera has
layers of meaning that enthusiasts delight in.
For example, designs are painted on the performer’s face
to symbolise personality, role and fate. A red face generally
represents loyalty and bravery, a black face represents valor,
yellow and white faces represent duplicity, and golden and
silver faces represent mystery.
There are over 300 regional opera styles practised in China
today. Kun opera, which originated around Jiangsu Province,
is a typical ancient opera style and features gentleness and
clearness. Qinqiang opera from Shaanxi is loud, aggressive
and wild. Probably the best known is Beijing opera, which
combines many regional styles. It has been designated the
national opera of China.Chinese opera has a rich history in China and is one of the gems of Chinese
culture, featuring beautiful music, dialogue, costumes and movements.