An Introduction to the Aesthetic Grammar of Peking Opera
Scientific Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, (2025), Vol.7, No.8, pp.391-396
Published: August 7, 2025
DOI: 10.54691/n4qcw060
Abstract
This paper explores the aesthetic canons of Peking Opera, a non-realistic art form that relies on a shared understanding between performer and spectator. It examines how the art form’s didactic purpose—the communication of Confucian values—shapes its narrative conventions and codified ‘forms’ (xing). It argues that this highly stylized system is not an end in itself but a vehicle for achieving transcendent ‘spirit’ (shen), requiring the audience’s active imagination to complete the immersive aesthetic experience.
Keywords:
Peking Opera, Chinese Culture, Aesthetics.
APA Citation:
Jinyi Dai, Guisheng Fu (2025). An Introduction to the Aesthetic Grammar of Peking Opera. Scientific Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 7(8), 391-396. https://doi.org/10.54691/n4qcw060
References
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- R.S. Qi: A Comprehensive Study of the Art of National Opera, in The Complete Works of Qi Rushan Vol.6 (Chongguang Literature and Art Publishing House, China 1962), p.516.