Why do opera actors wear makeup? What are the four major classical operas also called?

Chinese opera is mainly a combination of three different art forms: folk song and dance, rap and comedy. It originated from primitive song and dance and is a comprehensive stage art style with a long history. Opera has its own unique performance techniques and movements, which can be distinguished at a glance. Do you want to know what "rounding the stage" means in opera language? Please continue reading.

Contents of this article

1. What does "rounding up" mean in opera language?

2. What are the four major classical operas also called?

3. Why should we protect opera?

What does "dayuanchang" mean in opera language?

In opera language, "rounding the stage" refers to the actors' circular route on the stage to change the location of the play. The speed of the rounding is mostly from slow to fast, so it is also called running round the stage. Regardless of gender, the speed of running round the stage is divided into three types: slow, medium and fast. Slow speed is mostly used for starting, and gradually speeds up to medium and fast. Men mostly use medium steps, with a distance of about one foot. Women use medium steps of five or six inches and small steps of three or four inches. The route of the rounding can be divided into straight lines, horizontal lines, semi-arc circles, oblique lines, circles, S-shaped, horizontal ∞-shaped, etc. Two or more actors running in a ∞-shaped circle on the stage crosswise is called braiding.

For men, the left hand is fisted, the right hand is raised, the left Dingyu step is taken, and the eyes are looking straight ahead. When starting, the left toe is slightly turned, the heel is kicked, the toes are hooked and stepped forward, the heel touches the ground, and then the sole of the foot is pressed and the whole foot touches the ground. At the same time, the right heel is slightly raised, and then the right step is taken forward. The alternation of the two feet gradually speeds up. When running in the circle, the knees of the legs cannot be stiff, and the upper body cannot shake. The steps should be even, and the shoulders should not be raised, the waist should not be shaken, the abdomen should not be protruding, and the buttocks should not be raised. Slow at first and then fast, and the distance of each step is about half a step.

When women run in a circle, they start with their left hand on their waist, with their hands on their shoulders, stepping with their right foot, and looking forward to the left. When starting, the right toe is slightly turned outward, and the toes are hooked and stepped forward, with the heel touching the ground first, and then the sole of the foot is pressed and the whole foot touches the ground. At the same time, the left heel is raised, and the left foot steps forward to run, with the same posture as before. When running in a circle, the legs cannot be stiff, the inner sides of the two knees must be close together, the steps must be small, fast, and even, the upper body must be stable, and the chest cannot be tucked or the buttocks must be raised.

What are the four major classical operas also called?

The four great classical dramas, also known as the "Four Great Classical Operas", are Wang Shifu's The West Chamber, Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Kong Shangren's The Peach Blossom Fan, and Hong Sheng's The Palace of Eternal Life. The Palace of Eternal Life and The Peach Blossom Fan are two peaks in the development of opera in the Qing Dynasty. They also have a very high status in Chinese opera. Together with The West Chamber and The Peony Pavilion, they are known as the four great classical dramas in my country and have always been loved by the people.

Chinese opera is mainly a combination of three different art forms: folk song and dance, storytelling and comedy. It originated from primitive song and dance and is a comprehensive stage art style with a long history. It was not until the Han, Tang, Song and Jin dynasties that a relatively complete opera art was formed. It is a combination of literature, music, dance, fine arts, martial arts, acrobatics and performing arts, with about 360 types. Its characteristic is that it aggregates many art forms into one standard and reflects their respective personalities in the common nature.

Why do we need drama to protect

Because opera is a treasure of Chinese culture, a cultural gene on which the Chinese nation relies for survival and development, and an important part of world culture, excavating and protecting opera is not only necessary for the survival and development of the Chinese nation, but also has world significance. Today, as material civilization continues to develop, people's interest in spiritual life is growing. Opera can not only provide entertainment and increase knowledge, but also cultivate sentiment and guide people to be kind, which is beneficial to building a harmonious society and is an integral part of spiritual civilization construction.