Sheng (ç"Ÿ)

Hongsheng- Guan Gong (关公)

The Sheng (ç"Ÿ) is the main male role in Beijing opera. This role has numerous subtypes. The laosheng (老ç"Ÿ) is a dignified older role. These characters have a gentle and cultivated disposition and wear sensible costumes. One type of laosheng role is the hongsheng (红ç"Ÿ), a red-faced older male.

The only two hongsheng roles are Guan Gong (关公), the Chinese god of sworn brotherhood, loyalty and righteousness, and Zhao Kuang-yin (赵匡胤), the first Song Dynasty emperor. Young male characters are known as xiaosheng (小ç"Ÿ). These characters sing in a high, shrill voice with occasional breaks to represent the voice changing period of adolescence.

Depending on the character's rank in society, the costume of the xiaosheng may be either elaborate or simple. Off-stage, xiaosheng actors are often involved with beautiful women by virtue of the handsome and young image they project.

The wusheng (æ­¦ç"Ÿ) is a martial character for roles involving combat. They are highly trained in acrobatics, and have a natural voice when singing. Troupes will always have a laosheng actor. A xiaosheng actor may also be added to play roles fitting to his age. In addition to these main Sheng, the troupe will also have a secondary laosheng.

Dan (æ—¦)

Laodan (老旦)

The Dan (æ—¦) refers to any female role in Beijing opera. Dan roles were originally divided into five subtypes. Old women were played by laodan (老旦), martial women were wudan (武旦), young female warriors were daomadan (刀马旦), virtuous and elite women were qingyi(é'è¡£), and vivacious and unmarried women were huadan (花旦). One of Mei Lanfang's most important contributions to Beijing opera was in pioneering a sixth type of role, the huashan.

This role type combines the status of the qingyi with the sensuality of the huadan. A troupe will have a young Dan to play main roles, as well as an older Dan for secondary parts. Four examples of famous Dans are Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun, and Xun Huisheng.

In the early years of Beijing opera, all Dan roles were played by men. Wei Changsheng, a male Dan performer in the Qing court, developed the cai qiao (踩跷), or "false foot" technique, to simulate the bound feet of women and the characteristic gait that resulted from the practice.

The ban on female performers also led to a controversial form of brothel, known as the xianggong tangzi, in which men paid to have sex with young boys dressed as females. Ironically, the performing skills taught to the youths employed in these brothels led many of them to become professional Dan later in life.

Jing (净)

wujing (武净)

The Jing (净) is a painted face male role. Depending on the repertoire of the particular troupe, he will play either primary or secondary roles. This type of role will entail a forceful character, so a Jing must have a strong voice and be able to exaggerate gestures.

Beijing opera boasts 15 basic facial patterns, but there are over 1000 specific variations. Each design is unique to a specific character. The patterns and coloring are thought to be derived from traditional Chinese color symbolism and divination on the lines of a person's face, which is said to reveal personality.

Easily recognizable examples of coloring include red, which denotes uprightness and loyalty, white, which represents evil or crafty characters, and black, which is given to characters of soundness and integrity.

Three main types of Jing roles are often seen. These include tongchui (é"œé"¤), roles that heavily involve singing, jiazi (架子), roles with less emphasis on singing and more on physical performance, and wujing (武净), martial and acrobatic roles.

Chou (ä¸')

wuchou (æ­¦ä¸')

The Chou (ä¸') is a male clown role. The Chou usually plays secondary roles in a troupe. Indeed, most studies of Beijing opera classify the Chou as a minor role. The name of the role is a homophone of the Mandarin Chinese word chou, meaning "ugly".

This reflects the traditional belief that the clown's combination of ugliness and laughter could drive away evil spirits. Chou roles can be divided into wenchou (æ–‡ä¸'), civilian roles such as merchants and jailers, and wuchou (æ­¦ä¸'), minor military roles.

The wuchou (æ­¦ä¸') is one of the most demanding in Beijing opera, because of its combination of comic acting, acrobatics, and a strong voice. Chou characters are generally amusing and likable, if a bit foolish. Their costumes range from simple for characters of lower status to elaborate, perhaps overly so, for high status characters.

Chou characters wear special face paint, called xiaohualian (小花脸) that differs from that of Jing characters. The defining characteristic of this type of face paint is a small patch of white chalk around the nose. This can represent either a mean and secretive nature or a quick wit.

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