Peking opera is one of the five major traditional operas in China.Its vocal tones are mainly composed of Xipi and Erhuang, to th

Peking opera is one of the five major traditional operas in China. Its vocal tones are mainly composed of Xipi and Er-huang. to the music played by such instruments as huqin, gong, and drum. Peking opera is the dominant form of Chinese opera, combining music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.
      Peking opera grew out of Huiju opera, a folk opera originally popular in the regions south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the early Qing Dynasty. Due to the strong mobility of Huiju troupes, performers were exposed to frequent contact with other types of drama, incorporating different regional musical systems and tunes.
      In 1790, to celebrate the eightieth birthday of the Qianlong Emperor, the Four Great Anhui Troupes brought Huiju opera to Beijing to join the celebration. Their performances soon found an audience, marking the beginning of the more than 200 years of history of Peking opera. Peking opera is a fusion of some older operatic forms. From 1840 to 1860. it finally congealed as a mixture of elements of Qinqiang opera, Hanju opera, certain strengths of Kunqu opera, and local tunes of Beijing. The new form then began to create its own innovations. For example, melodies were simplified, and were played with different traditional instruments than those used in earlier forms. The characters staged in Peking opera are not based on the appearance of people in daily life. Artistic exaggerations are applied in elaboration of makeup and costumes according to gender, personality, age, occupation, and social status of the roles in different plays.