The Roles Classification in Beijing Opera

京剧中的角色类型

The roles of Beijing Opera are strictly¹ classified. There were altogether ten types of roles in the beginning, which were sheng, dan, jing, chou, mo, fu, wai, wu，za, and tie. Later, they were reclassified into four major roles, namely sheng (male), dan( female), jing (painted face), chou (clown). And each role was further divided. With Beijing Opera becoming better and approaching perfection day by day，there have appeared many outstanding performers regarding each type of role. Yu shuyan, Yan Jupeng, Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, Zhou Xinfang，Gao Qingkui, and Li Shaochun are famous laosheng (old men) players； Yang Xiaolou，Shang Heyu，Gai Jiaotian wusheng (young warriors) players ； Mei Lanfang， Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun，Xun Huisheng，Zhang Junqiu, Yan Huizhu and Guan Sushuang dan (female) players； Gong Yunpu and Li Duokui lao- dan (old women) players； Jin Shaoshan, Hao Shouchen, Hou Xirui, Qiu Shengrong, Fang² Rongxiang, and Yuan Shihai jing (painted face) Players； Wang Changlin, Xiao Changhua and Ye Shengzhang chou (clown) players. All of them have a style of their own, playing an important role in the development of Beijing Opera, serving as a link between past and future, and have developed a school of their own. There are many schools of Beijing Opera, with distinctly different styles, each having its own merits.

京剧的角色有严格的分类。起初全国共有十种角色，分别是生，旦，净，丑，末，夫，外，武，杂，贴。后来，他们被重新划分为四个主要角色，分别生（男人），旦（女人），净（花脸），丑（小丑）。而每个角色都被进一步划分。京剧一天天变得更好更接近完美，对于每一个类型的角色出现了不少优秀的演员。余叔岩、言菊朋、马连良、谭富英、周信芳、高庆奎、李少春是著名的老生演员；杨小楼、尚和玉、盖叫天是著名的武生（年轻的战士）演员;梅兰芳、程砚秋、尚小云、荀慧生、张君秋、言慧珠和关肃霜是著名的花旦（女）演员：龚云埔和李多奎是著名的老旦（老年妇女）演员;金韶山、郝寿臣、郈西瑞、裘盛戎、方荣祥和袁世海是著名的净（花脸）演员：王长林、萧长华、叶盛章是著名的丑角（小丑）。他们都有自己的风格，在京剧的发展中有着重要的作用，作为过去和未来之间的联系，并已经有了它自己的学校。京剧的许多学校，具有明显不同的风格，各有其自身的优点。