Arts

• Kabuki歌舞伎


  Classical Japanese dance-drama known for stylization, glamorous costumes, and elaborate makeup worn by performers. Highly stylized song, mime, and dance performed only by males.
• Kabuki


  • Originated in early Edo period, developed into all-male theatrical form after women were banned from performing in 1629, reached zenith in mid-18th century
• Peking Opera


  Traditional Chinese theater art form that combines music, vocal performance, pantomime, dance, and acrobatics. Considered the highest form of art in China.
• Peking Opera


  • Features four main role types: sheng (gentlemen), dan (women), jing (rough men), and chou (clowns). Performers use skills of speech, song, dance, and combat in symbolic and suggestive movements. Music includes xīpí and èrhuáng styles.
• Wayang Kulit


  Traditional form of puppet-shadow play originally found in Java, Bali, and Lombok in Indonesia. Puppet figures are rear-projected on a taut linen screen with a light, and the dalang (shadow artist) manipulates the carved leather figures.
• Nang Shadow Puppet


  Form of shadow play found in Thailand, with puppets made of painted buffalo hide and the story narrated by songs, chants, and music.
• Nang Shadow Puppet


  Believed to have come to Thailand via Java and the Malay Peninsula from India
• The narratives of Wayang Kulit often have to do with the major theme of good vs. evil
• Peking Opera features elaborate and colorful costumes, with performers being the only focal points on the characteristically sparse stage
• Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate keishi/keishomake-up worn by some of its performers
• Content/Core Content

  • China (New Year, Chinese Peking Opera)
  • Japan (Taiko Drum Festival, Kabuki)
  • Indonesia (Wayang Kulit, Bali Dance Festival)
  • Thailand (Nang Shadow Puppet, Loy Krathong)
• Chinese Peking Opera


  Combination of music, vocal performance, pantomime, dance and acrobatics. Characters: Sheng, Dan, Chou. The earliest Chinese name, Pihuang, was a combination of the xipi and erhuang melodies. As it increased in popularity, its name became Jingju or Jingxi, which reflected its start in the capital city (Chinese: 京; pinyin: Jīng)
• Japan: Kabuki


  Is a form of traditional Japanese drama with highly stylized song, mime and dance. The art of singing and dancing.
• Indonesia: Wayang Kulit


  Is a traditional form of puppet shadow play. Wayang refers to kinds of puppet theaters. Kulit mean skins.
• Thailand: Nang Shadow Puppet


  Was one form of public entertainment in the south of Thailand. The puppets are colourful but they really do not have to be because you only see the black shadow.
• Suppon

  • A platform that rises from below the stage
• Aragoto

  • An oversized, supernatural and rough male hero in Kabuki
• Sakura

  • One of the popular traditional songs in Japan
• Hanamichi

  • A flower path; a walkway which extends into the audience via which dramatic entrances and exits are made
• Sheng


  The main male role in Peking opera
• Xiaosheng


  Actors are often involved with beautiful women by virtue of the handsome and young image they project
• Wusheng


  A martial character for roles involving combat. They are highly trained in acrobatics and have a natural voice when singing
• Laosheng


  A dignified older role. These characters have a gentle and cultivated disposition, and wear sensible costumes
• Dan


  Refers to any female role in Peking opera
• Laodan


  An old woman
• Wudan


  A martial woman
• Daomadan


  Young female warriors
• Qingyi


  Virtuous and elite women
• Huadan


  Vivacious and unmarried women
• Jing


  A painted fame male role who plays wither primary or secondary roles. This type of role entails a forceful character, which means that a Jing actor must have a strong voice and be able to exaggerate gestures. The red color denotes loyalty and goodness, white denotes evil, and black denotes integrity
• Chou


  A male clown role. The chou usually plays secondary roles whose name also means "ugly." It reflects the traditional belief that the clown's combination of ugliness and laughter could drive away evil spirits
• Colors and their meanings in Peking opera


  • Red - devotion, courage, bravery, uprightness, and loyalty
  • Black - roughness and fierceness
  • Yellow - fierceness, ambition, and cool-headedness
  • Purple - uprightness, sophistication, and cool-headedness
  • Reddish purple - just and noble character
  • Blue - loyalty, fierceness and sharpness
  • White - dangerousness, suspiciousness, and craftiness. Commonly seen on the stage is the white face for the powerful villain
  • Green - impulsive and violent and stubborness
• Xiaohualian (the petty painted face)

  A small patch of chalk on and around the nose. Clowns of traditional drama who wear this special makeup show a mean and secretive character