The Origin of Beijing Opera

京剧的起源

Although it is called Beijing opera，its origins are not in Beijing but in the Chinese provinces of Anhui (安徽）and Hubei (湖北）.Beijing opera got its two main melodies, Xipi and Erhuang, from Anhui and Hubei operas. Much dialogue is also carried out in an archaic¹ dialed originating partially² from those regions. It also absorbed music and arias³ from other operas and musical arts such as the historic Qinqiang as well as being very strongly influenced by Kunqu (昆曲），the form that preceded it as court art. It is regarded that Beijing opera was born when the Four Great Anhui Troupes⁴ came to Beijing in 1790. Beijing opera was originally staged for the court and came into the public later In 1828，some famous Hubei troupes came to Beijing. They often jointly⁵ performed in the stage with Anhui troupes. The combination gradually formed Beijing operas main melodies.

虽然它被称为京剧，但它的起源不是在北京，而是在安徽和湖北。京剧尽得其两个主旋律，来自安徽和湖北戏曲的西皮和二黄。很多对话的也来自这些地区，同时也吸收了音乐和其他歌剧的腔调和音乐艺术，例如历史悠久的秦腔也被昆曲强烈影响，这种形式让它成为艺术的领先者。有人被认为，京剧在1790年四大安徽剧团来北京时已诞生。京剧最初来源于宫廷，1828年一些著名的湖北剧团来到北京，京剧传到民众。他们经常与安徽剧团一起上舞台表演。这种组合逐渐形成了北京歌剧的主旋律。