Peking Opera · 京剧
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Peking Opera costumes, or xíngtóu (行头), are gorgeously embroidered but strictly conventional. Colour and motif announce a character's rank and status: a dragon robe (龙袍, lóngpáo) marks an emperor, while plainer garments suit commoners. A general's flag-studded cape signals his command.
The stage carries almost no scenery, yet a few objects do enormous work. A mǎbiān (riding whip) means a horse; a pair of oars means a boat; a simple table and chairs become a mountain, a bridge or a throne. Banners and weapons complete the picture.
The long white shuǐxiù (水袖) — "water sleeves" — attached to many robes are an actor's expressive tool: a flick can show grief, a swirl can show joy, a snap can show command. Gesture, not scenery, carries the scene.