UHON 298H Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Empress Dowager Cixi, Qianlong Emperor, Peking Opera
18 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Started off as music, then developed into a style of theatre that we could (very loosely) associate with musical theatre. A drum, wooden clappers, a flute and stringed instruments accompany actors that sing, dance, and perform monologues. Scenery is sparse but makeup and costumes are elaborate. Today we see men and women, but originally the troupes were separated. There was even a group of prostitutes that performed kunqu. Water-sleeves are a hallmark of the kunqu style, they are sometimes seen in beijing opera as well. Long white silk sleeves that cover hands. Accentuate the beautiful fluid movement of arms. Beauty of silk supposed to flow like water. Koreans do have water sleeves but chinese do not. Emperor xuanzong (712-755) founded an academy for performers. It was probably the first musi academy in the world; certainly the first comprehensive performing arts school of its kind.
