Beijing Opera RobesBeijing Opera (jingju) is one of China's most recent theatrical forms, although it draws from a tradition extending back at least as far as the twelfth century, when opera was performed in the huge public theaters of Hangzhou, then capital of the Southern Song dynasty (1179-1276). Today Beijing opera is the national form of opera in China, although there are many other opera forms as well. Beijing opera is in Mandarin (Putonghua), while many other forms of opera in China are in local dialects. Today in some areas of China traditional opera is still performed on small stages out in the open air, the way opera was performed traditionally. But there are also many Beijing opera theaters and opera troups. Chinese opera has become popular for foreigners in China as well, and many foreigners learn to perform traditional Chinese opera. The Beijing opera robes listed below are in many different colors, and the different colors are used in Beijing opera to represent different moods, just as the faces are painted to let the audience know whether this particular character is good or bad.
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