1. Unit 3 Chinese Performing Arts

2. Influences of Chinese Performing Arts Taoism Emphasizes simplicity, patience, and nature’s harmony utilizing tai chi, meditative movement. Tao – path to the cosmos Shamanism Shamans – spiritual leaders who were taught to have magical powers to communicate with the dead to ward off evil spirits. These rituals combined costume, song, dance, and gesture. QUESTION: How could these practices influence performing art?

3. Early Chinese Theatre Variety Plays – various imperial court entertainment. Examples: skits, pantomimes, singing, dancing, shadow puppets, and marionettes 5 th Century BC Pear Garden – actors training institute Nanxi – “southern drama”, contains four prominent characters.

4. Prominent Characters Sheng – main, male character with a usually gentle personality Dan – female characters, played by men in the early developments

5. Prominent Characters (ctd.) Jing – painted face, male, strong & forceful Chou – clown “ugly”, amusing & foolish, drives away evil spirits QUESTION: Which character would you want to see most? Why?

6. Zaju/Chinese Opera Zaju – “Chinese Opera” has four acts or song sequences Playwrights wrote texts to suit rhythms of popular music. The protagonist would sing most of the songs. Few characters and avoided subplots.

7. Zaju/Chinese Opera Topic examples: romance, religion & history, society, crimes, and bandit heros Males and females would play both roles. Elaborate instrumental accompaniments.

8. Important People of Chinese Theatre Li Yu – first important drama critic Believed playwrights should write for mass audiences Wrote plays for entertainment Based plays on common people QUESTION: Do you agree with his critique of drama? Why or why not?

9. Important People of Chinese Theatre Wang Shifu – playwright Wrote cycle of plays about people in love. 13 th century Gao Ming – playwright Wrote about family loyalty 14 th century

10. Stage/Production Structure Bare Stage with two doors on each side Props used: Swords & fans No scenery Built for outdoor use QUESTION: Do plays need scenery? Is scenery important for an audience to understand a play?

11. Costume/Makeup Elaborate costumes Heavy, stylized makeup - White = Evil/Sly - Black = Justice/Integrity