Origin of Peking Opera

Background. Peking opera is the dominant form of Chinese opera, combining instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance, and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing during the mid-Qing dynasty. Although named for Beijing, its origins lie in the greater areas of Anhui province, including southern Anhui and eastern Hubei, which share the Xiajiang Mandarin dialect.

Formation. The art form was born when the Four Great Anhui Troupes brought Hui opera to Beijing in 1790 for the Qianlong Emperor's 80th birthday. In 1828, several famous Hubei troupes arrived in Beijing and performed jointly with Anhui troupes, contributing to the development of the style.

Development. Peking opera became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The term 'Peking opera' entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 1953. During the period when Beijing was known as Beiping (1927–1949), the art form was known as Pingxi or Pingju.