第4章 Beijing Opera京剧

京剧是中国的国粹，是古代人民的经典创作。京剧的艺术理念，表演形态充分体现了中国传统文化的审美观，如中正端庄、典雅温和、善恶分明、空灵婉转。不论它被授予什么名号，京剧绝不逊色于世界其他经典，而且更具个性。想要了解中国的文化，京剧是必不可少的一部分。

Realize Beijing Opera

认识京剧

1 京剧简介及背景

Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. It was extremely popular in Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju. It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.

Although it is called Beijing Opera, its origins are not in Beijing but in provinces of Anhui and Hubei. The early Qing Dynasty saw a great development of a plethora of operas. In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Hui and Han operas were brought into Beijing. They became immensely popular with the imperial family, nobles, officials and the commoners. The marriage of Hui and Han operas became known as the Beijing opera.

Peking opera features four main types of performers. Performing troupes often have several of each variety, as well as numerous secondary and tertiary performers. They utilize the skills of speech, song, dance, and combat in movements which are symbolic and suggestive, rather than realistic. Above all, the skill of performers is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production. The layers of meaning within each movement must be expressed in time with music. The music of Peking opera can be divided into the Xipi and Erhuang styles. Melodies include arias, fixed-tune melodies, and percussion patterns. The repertoire of Peking opera includes over 1,400 works, which are based on Chinese history, folklore, and, increasingly, contemporary life.

Peking opera was denounced as “feudalistic” and “bourgeoise” during the Cultural Revolution, and replaced with the eight revolutionary model operas as a means of propaganda and indoctrination. After the Cultural Revolution, these transformations were largely undone. In recent years, Peking opera has attempted numerous reforms in response to sagging audience numbers. These reforms, which include improving performance quality, adapting new performance elements, and performing new and original plays, have met with mixed success.

2 京剧的特殊表达

（1）京剧中的表演手法

Beijing Opera is a comprehensive performing art. That is, sing （singing）, read （speak and talk） and do （performance）, fight （martial arts） for the integration. Beijing opera features four main types of performers.

sing 唱 read 念

do 做 fight 打

（2）京剧中的角色

The traditional features of the masklike makeup and elaborate costumes immediately identify the characters to a knowing audience. It uses different colors and strokes to exaggerate actors' features, either to beautify them or to make them ugly. They are used to show the personality of the character and to add a touch of drama to the role.

Sheng 生 Dan 旦

Jing 净 Chou 丑

京剧中的内容丰富多样，有不同的表演方法，不同的发音技巧，还有各式各样的脸谱。虽然它只有两百多年的历史，但它的发展相当迅速。到目前为止，还是最流行的一种戏曲。京剧带给我们的不仅仅是那精湛的表演功夫，更是中国人民的艺术结晶。

Key words & Sentences

关键词句全知道

Chinese traditional opera is considered as one of three ancient operas in the world together with Greek tragedy and comedy, and Indian Sanskrit opera.

京剧和希腊悲剧、喜剧，印度梵剧并称为世界三大古剧。

Among the more than 360 ancient local operas in china, Peking Opera is known as China's national opera.

在中国360多个地方剧种中，京剧处于国剧的地位。

Peking Opera arose in the late 18th century but not became fully developed and recognized until the mid-19th century.

京剧出现在18世纪，但到了19世纪才得到充分的发展和认可。

Mei Lanfang, Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqiu and Xun Huisheng were named as the four most famous actors of Peking Opera at that time.

那时候，京剧中有四位代表性的演员：梅兰芳、尚小云、程砚秋、荀慧生。

Specific types of facial make-up in Peking Opera are put on actors' faces to symbolize the personalities, characteristics, and fates of the roles.

有一些特别的脸谱是为了有象征性地显示出演员的个性，特点和角色命运。

Red facial types have positive meanings, symbolizing brave, faithful, and wise men.

红色脸谱表示忠勇义烈。

Beijing opera was popular during Qing dynasty.

京剧在清朝时期很流行。

During the 20th century, Beijing opera witnessed a steady decline in audience numbers.

在20世纪，京剧的观众越来越少。

There are so many famous Beijing operas in our lives, for example, Farewell to My Concubine, Drunkened Concubine.

在我们生活周围还流传着很多的出名的京剧，例如《霸王别姬》，《贵妃醉酒》。

Beijing opera was listed in the Representative List of the Intangible cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

2010年，京剧列入“人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录”。

Black facial types represent brave and upright men, even the rash ones.

黑色的脸谱表示勇猛、正直甚至鲁莽。

Blue and green facial types represent men who have bad temper.

蓝色或绿色的脸谱表示一些粗豪暴躁的人物

Facial type is a prominent feature of Beijing Opera.

脸谱是京剧中最有特色的艺术。

Beijing Opera is traditional Chinese art.

京剧，是中国的传统艺术。

On the source of facial types, the general view is from mask.

关于脸谱，一般的说法是来自假面具。

The methods of painting and coloring of facial makeup in Beijing Opera basically divided into three categories: rub faces, smear faces and sketch faces.

京剧脸谱的画法，基本上分为三类：揉脸、抹脸、勾脸。

Mr Meilanfang, the master of Peking Opera, spent more than fifty years on stage.

中国京剧艺术大师梅兰芳有五十多年的舞台生涯。

The heroine of Dou E's Grievance is a typical “Qingyi” character.

京剧《窦娥冤》中的女主角窦娥就是典型的青衣角色。

Mr Meilanfang is the symbol of Chinese acting art and is our nation's pride.

梅兰芳先生是中国表演艺术的象征，是我国人民的骄傲。

Let's Talk！

开始交流吧！

Alice: Peter, have you ever seen a Peking Opera?

艾里斯：皮特，你看过京剧吗？

Peter: Of course. Peking Opera is kind of symbol of China. I suppose every foreigner would manage to see it.

皮特：当然看过。京剧是中国的一种象征。我想每个外国人都会设法去看看的。

Alice: Great. What repertoire did you see?

艾里斯：太棒了。你看的是什么剧目？

Peter: Umm. I don't remember the name. But the story is about a defeated king whose concubine killed herself.

皮特：嗯。我不记得名字了。但故事是关于一个战败的国王，他的妃子自杀了。

Alice: That must be The King Says Farewell to His Concubine. What do you think of Peking Opera?

艾里斯：那肯定是“霸王别姬”。你认为京剧怎么样？

Peter: Well, it is an admirable art and at the same time a difficult abstract art.

皮特：嗯。它是一种令人赞叹的艺术，同时也是一种抽象的，理解起来有点困难的艺术。

Alice: So it is. Peking Opera synthesizes music, drama, dancing, and acrobatics along with very elaborate costumes and a minimum of props, according to traditions and customs dating back as far as the twelfth century.

艾里斯：的确如你所说。京剧结合了音乐、话剧、舞蹈和杂技于一身。它的戏装非常精致，道具很少，可追溯至12世纪的传统和风俗。

Peter: Oh, I don't know that! You guys are lucky to have such wonderful heritage.

皮特：哦。我还真不知道这些！你们拥有这样的传统真是幸运。

Alice: There is a Beijing Opera show tonight. Let's go to watch it together, all right?

艾里斯：今天晚上有一场京剧，咱们一起去看吧，怎么样？

Peter: What Peking Opera shows are on today? Are the actors famous?

皮特：今天上演什么京剧剧目？演员有名吗？

Alice: Drunkened Concubine. I can't recall their names, but according to the newspaper, they are all very famous.

艾里斯：贵妃醉酒。我说不出他们的名字。不过报纸上说，那些演员都挺有名的。

Peter: All right then, when do we leave?

皮特：那好，咱们几点出发？

Alice: The Opera begins at seven p.m., let's leave at a quarter past six.

艾里斯：京剧晚上七点开始，咱们六点一刻出发吧。

Peter: It is a deal.

皮特：一言为定。