How are onstage characters in jingju classified? What are the sub-categories in the female (dan) category?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• "In jingju onstage characters are classified according to a system of role types: sheng male, dan female, jing painted face, and the chou clown.
• There are sub-categories within each type: for example, the dan designation includes the qingyi, wudan (military female), huadan (flirtatious maid), laodan (elderly female), and caidan (comic female role), among others."
41. What are the four basic expressive means used in jingju? What is the range of modes of voice production found in singing and speech? What is the "gamut" of actions covered in acting and fighting? "If jingju's costuming and make-up are rich," why is scenery and stage properties often simple? (two reasons)
• Jingju combines four basic expressive means: singing, speech, acting, and fighting (chang, nian, zuo, and da).
• "Singing and speech embrace a range of modes of vocal production, from melismatic arias to the declamation of poems and everyday speech."
• Acting and fighting also cover a wide range of expressions and behaviors—from facial expressions to postures, gestures, mime, and choreographed fighting and acrobatics.
• Up to mid-twentieth century, troupes were often migratory, making transportation of simple scenery and stage properties more practical. "Elaborate stage properties would also limit the chance for performers to display their skills in mime or acrobatics."