Peking Opera · 京剧
Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou — how characters are typed
Every character in Peking Opera belongs to one of four main role types, or hángdàng (行当). Knowing them is the quickest way to read a performance:
Sheng covers all male characters. Lǎoshēng are bearded older men, sung in a natural voice; xiǎoshēng are young men, sung in a brighter mixed voice; wǔshēng are martial men who specialise in acrobatics and combat.
Dan designates female characters. Qīngyī are virtuous principal ladies who emphasise singing; huādàn are lively young women who emphasise movement and speech; wǔdàn and dāomǎdàn are martial women; lǎodàn are elderly women.
Jing, also called huāliǎn ("painted face"), are bold, larger-than-life male characters — generals, officials, gods — defined by their elaborate, colour-coded makeup. They are sung in a powerful, ringing voice.
Chou are the clowns, marked by a dab of white paint around the eyes and nose. They deliver the wit and wordplay, and often speak directly to the audience.
This typing dictates a performer's voice, movement, costume and makeup — so a character's identity is clear the instant they appear. See our Quick Answers for the role types explained one by one.