京剧Beijing Opera

        京剧是中国流行最广、影响最大的一个剧种，有近200年的历史。京剧在形成过程中，吸收了许多地方戏的精华，又受到北京方言和风俗习惯的影响。京剧虽然诞生在北京，但不是北京的地方戏，中国各地都有演出京剧的剧团。

Peking Opera is the most popular and influential opera in China with a history of nearly 200 years. In its formation process, Peking Opera absorbed the essence of many local operas and was also influenced by the Beijing dialect and customs. Although Peking Opera was born in Beijing, it is not a local opera of Beijing, and there are opera troupes performing Peking Opera all over China.

        京剧是一种唱、念、做、打并重的艺术。唱，指按照一定的曲调演唱。念，是剧中角色的对话和独白。做，指动作和表情的表演。打，是用舞蹈化的武术表演的搏斗。

Peking Opera is a type of art that emphasizes singing, recitation, acting, and fighting. Singing refers to singing according to a certain melody, recitation refers to the dialogue and monologue of the characters in the play, acting refers to the performance of movements and expressions, and fighting refers to the martial arts performance in dance form.

        在长期的发展过程中，京剧形成了一套虚拟表演动作。如：一条桨可以代表一只船；一条马鞭可以代表一匹马；演员不需要任何道具，能表现出上楼、下楼、开门、关门等动作。这些动作虽经过了夸张，但是能给观众既真实又优美的感觉。

In the long-term development process, Peking Opera has formed a set of virtual performance movements. For example, a paddle can represent a boat, and a horse whip can represent a horse. Actors do not need any props and can perform actions such as going up stairs, going down stairs, opening doors, and closing doors. Although these actions are exaggerated, they can give the audience a feeling of both realism and beauty.

        京剧演员分生、旦、净、丑四个行当。”生”扮演的是男性人物，根据角色年龄、身份的不同，又分老生①、小生②和武生③。著名演员有马连良、周信芳、叶盛兰、盖叫天、李少春等。”旦”所扮演的都是女性人物，又分青衣④、花旦⑤、武旦⑥、老旦最著名的旦角演员有20世纪20年代出现的四大名旦一梅兰芳、程砚秋、尚小云、荀慧生。”净”扮演的是性格豪爽的男性，特征是要在脸上勾画花脸，所以也叫花脸，著名花脸演员有裘盛戎、袁世海等。”丑”扮演的是幽默机智或阴险狡猾的男性，著名的丑角演员有萧长华、马富禄等。

Peking Opera actors are divided into four categories: Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou. “Sheng” plays male characters and is further divided into Laosheng, Xiaosheng, and Wusheng, according to the character’s age and identity. Famous actors include Ma Lianliang, Zhou Xinfang, Ye Shenglan, Gai Jitai, and Li Shaochun. “Dan” plays female characters and is further divided into Qingyi, Huadan, Wudan, and Lao Dan. The most famous actresses include the four great Dan of the 1920s, Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun, and Xun Huisheng. “Jing” plays straightforward male characters and is characterized by painting flower faces on their faces, so they are also called Huadan. Famous Huadan actors include Qiu Shengrong and Yuan Shiran. “Chou” plays humorous or cunning male characters, and famous Chou actors include Xiao Changhua and Ma Fulu.

        京剧的化妆也很有特点。”生”、”旦”的化妆要”描眉”、”吊眉”、”画眼圈”；”净”、”丑”的化妆要根据京剧的脸谱⑧勾画，比如忠勇的人要画红脸，奸诈的人要画白脸。

Peking Opera makeup also has its own characteristics. “Sheng” and “Dan” makeup requires “drawing eyebrows,” “hanging eyebrows,” and “drawing eye circles.” “Jing” and “Chou” makeup requires drawing according to the facial makeup of Peking Opera, for example, loyal and brave characters require a red face, and cunning characters require a white face.

        京剧的剧目很多，据说有3800出。目前上演的主要有传统剧、新编历史剧和现代戏三大类。

There are many plays in Peking Opera, reportedly around 3,800. Currently, there are mainly three categories of plays performed: traditional plays, newly adapted historical plays, and modern plays.

京剧作为中国民族戏曲的精华，在国内外都有很大的影响。许多外国人专门到中国来学唱京剧。许多京剧表演艺术家也曾到世界各地访问演出，受到了各国人民的喜爱。

As the essence of Chinese national opera, Peking Opera has a great influence both domestically and internationally. Many foreigners come to China specifically to learn to sing Peking Opera. Many Peking Opera artists have also visited and performed around the world and have been loved by people from various countries.