Peking opera

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/peking-opera

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the year of significant development?Circa 1790, marked by the convergence of Anhui troupes in Beijing
2. What is the primary origin location?Beijing, China
3. What is Peking Opera and why is it special?Peking Opera, also called Jingju, is a Chinese theater that mixes singing, acting, dancing, and martial arts. It is famous for its bright costumes and painted faces that help tell the story.
4. How did Peking Opera start?It began in Beijing in the late 1700s when four opera groups from Anhui joined local performers. Their styles mixed together to create a new, popular form of opera.

Jingju: The formal Chinese name for Peking opera, signifying its capital city origins and theatrical nature.
Lianpu: The intricate and symbolic face painting used in Peking opera to visually communicate character attributes.
Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou: The four primary role categories in Peking opera, representing male, female, painted-face male, and clown characters.
Xifu: Refers to the elaborate and symbolic costumes worn by performers in Peking opera.