Beijing Opera – Unmasking Five of its Biggest Myths

Let’s remove the common misperceptions surrounding Beijing Opera as a Chinese art form to better understand its unique and multifaceted storytelling approach.

Here are five common myths eager to be dispelled:

1. Beijing Opera is the oldest form of Chinese Opera

Beijing Opera (京剧, Jīngjù) aka Peking Opera clocks in at a youthful 200 years old and is only one of the 360+ local Chinese operas. By comparison, the influential Kun Opera (昆剧, Kūnjù) musical theater finds its roots in Kunshan,...