Characteristics of the Four Schools of Peking Opera

It is natural to form different schools of thought in various arts. Such as expressionism, empiricism, abstraction, impressionism and stream of consciousness. Schools in Beijing Opera are all named after actors, such as Mei School, Cheng School and so on. This is because Beijing opera is an actor's art centered on the protagonist. On the basis of extensive study and inheritance of predecessors' performance skills, combined with their own personality hobbies, physiological characteristics and artistic accomplishment, all actors created unique performance tracks, methods and means, which were recognized and welcomed by the audience after frequent performance practice, thus forming their own artistic trend and genre on the Beijing Opera stage with the artistic personality and unique creation of the main actors.

Characteristics of the four major schools of Peking Opera:

Mei Pai: Founded by Mei Lanfang. Mei Lanfang pursued the highest realm of art all her life, and created a large number of ancient female images with kindness, gentleness, luxury, elegance and a sense of justice with her own performances.

Cheng School: founded by Cheng. It mainly expresses ancient women with deep and tortuous vocals and demure and dignified stage images, and is especially good at shaping middle-and lower-class women who are miserable and soft outside and rigid inside.

Xun School: founded by Xun Huisheng. She is good at creating innocent, lively and enthusiastic girl images, and her style is gentle and charming.

Shang School: founded by Shang Xiaoyun. Taking vigorous and graceful as a unique style, singing, reading, doing and playing are not slim, winning with gas and strength, with masculine beauty.