Nai-Xin Anne Long

8 DEC 1988

Chinese Opera’s Characteristics
I.  Introduction

     In China, drama is performed in different dialects and musical styles from province to province.  Beijing opera or Jing-ju(京劇) is confessedly representative and is called the National Drama in the
Republic of China.  So in most cases, it is translated into English as Chinese Opera.

     In comparison with realistic drama forms, Chinese Opera is performed in quite a different way.  The purpose of this research paper is to figure out Chinese Opera’s characteristics by analyzing its Stage (including stage techniques), Play, Player, and Audience; since these are the four basic elements of drama.