Knowledge Quiz on Classical Peking Opera Plays

Author: Chang Lisheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-17
Features: The essence of Peking Opera lies in performance, and the essence of performance lies in technique, skill, and methods, which are known in the industry as the "Four Skills" and "Five Methods." All of these are preserved in the plays. Peking Opera is an encyclopedia, encompassing everything, with vast knowledge embedded in its plays. Since its formation during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, Peking Opera has gone through over 150 years of history, with thousands of plays being transplanted, adapted, and created. Often, as a batch of new plays emerges, a batch of old plays becomes obsolete, and only those that have been refined through countless trials and retain vitality can be passed down. Classic plays are not praised into existence, nor are they "judged" into existence through awards; they are recognized by audiences after artists have undergone arduous refinement. Without understanding the old, one cannot speak of the new. Without inheritance, how can there be development? Acting, performing, watching, and discussing Peking Opera were once part of my youth. With the passage of time, I moved from an artistic troupe to a cultural complex. The change in environment did not make me forget the past, because Peking Opera has already flowed into my blood. This book introduces classic Peking Opera plays in a question-and-answer format.