Zheng Yici Peking Opera Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre , located on a hutong
in the Xuanwu District of Beijing
, is one of the best-known Beijing opera
theatres. It is also one of the oldest wooden theatres in China
. Zhengyici means a temple (ci) for Zhengyi Xuantan Laozu (正乙玄坛老祖).
in the Qing Dynasty
. It was built on the site of a Buddhist
temple. It has a rich history that includes performances by the grandmaster of Peking Opera, Mei Lanfang
.
After the Cultural Revolution
, the theatre fell into disrepair. However, in 1995 a local businessman sponsored a full restoration. The theatre now continues to perform Beijing Opera. It is considered a living relic and one of Beijing's finest monuments.
As of August 2005, the theatre is temporarily closed for building work.
As of October 2010，the theatre was all set to reopen ,with the premiere of Mei Lanfang Classics
, providing a view of Peking Opera in its heyday.The play includes six classics from the 160 repertoires of Mei Lanfang
, including Battle with Invaders,Drunken Princess,Goddess of Luo River,Taking Command of Troops,Sylph Scattering Flowers,Farewell to Princess Yu.
Hutong
Hutongs are a type of narrow streets or alleys, most commonly associated with Beijing, China.In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one...
in the Xuanwu District of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, is one of the best-known Beijing opera
Beijing opera
Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court...
theatres. It is also one of the oldest wooden theatres in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Zhengyici means a temple (ci) for Zhengyi Xuantan Laozu (正乙玄坛老祖).
History
The theatre was built in 1688, during the reign of the Kangxi EmperorKangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
in the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. It was built on the site of a Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
temple. It has a rich history that includes performances by the grandmaster of Peking Opera, Mei Lanfang
Méi Lánfang
Mei Lanfang was one of the most famous Beijing opera artists in modern history, exclusively known for his qingyi roles, a type of dan role. Méi Lánfāng is his stage name, and in Chinese it is generally considered a feminine name. His real name was Méi Lán...
.
After the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, the theatre fell into disrepair. However, in 1995 a local businessman sponsored a full restoration. The theatre now continues to perform Beijing Opera. It is considered a living relic and one of Beijing's finest monuments.
As of August 2005, the theatre is temporarily closed for building work.
As of October 2010，the theatre was all set to reopen ,with the premiere of Mei Lanfang Classics
Mei Lanfang Classics
Mei Lanfang Classics is a Peking opera production which is composed of six classics from Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang. The performance is held in the Zheng Yici Peking Opera Theatre , an ancient theatre in Beijing. The director is Li Liuyi, and the art director is Mei Baojiu, the son of Mei...
, providing a view of Peking Opera in its heyday.The play includes six classics from the 160 repertoires of Mei Lanfang
Méi Lánfang
Mei Lanfang was one of the most famous Beijing opera artists in modern history, exclusively known for his qingyi roles, a type of dan role. Méi Lánfāng is his stage name, and in Chinese it is generally considered a feminine name. His real name was Méi Lán...
, including Battle with Invaders,Drunken Princess,Goddess of Luo River,Taking Command of Troops,Sylph Scattering Flowers,Farewell to Princess Yu.
External links
- Website of photographs of Zheng Yici Peking Opera Theatre (including Peking Opera music and a link to a map of its location)
- Zhengyici Xilou, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.