"Reviving Aesthetics: New Trends" brought Peking Opera to the forefront, introducing its beauty to students at NCKU-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

NCKU's Institute of Art Studies and Drama Master's Degree Program, Associate Professor  Wei-Chien Ma meticulously planned the "Traditional Opera and Performing Arts" course. She specially invited the National Taiwan College of Traditional Chinese Opera's Renaissance Peking Opera Troupe to collaborate with the Trend Education Foundation for the "Reviving Aesthetics: New Trends" event held on the afternoon of April 24th at NCKU's Cheng-Hsing Auditorium. The event included an introduction to Peking Opera, exciting performances, and costume experiences. It also partnered with NCKU's Art Center's "Knocking on the Door of Art" course to open the door to art exploration for students, allowing them to discover the unique charm of Peking Opera.


"Sing, Speak, Act, Fight" are the fundamental skills required of an excellent Peking Opera performer. These skills require constant practice from a young age to improve the body's coordination and flexibility, enabling performers to use their bodies flexibly according to the plot's demands. Yi-Shu Li, head of the Renaissance Peking Opera Troupe's promotion team, further explained that basic skills, blanket skills, and prop skills are the main training methods for Peking Opera actors. Basic skills focus on strength and flexibility training, including movements like "grabbing the top" and "bending down." Blanket skills are training courses for martial arts scenes, involving handstands, foot kicks, and rolls, usually conducted on carpets to prevent injury to the performers. Prop skills involve the practice of weapons and props such as spears, knives, sticks, swords, axes, and halberds. During this event, Peking Opera actors Xi-Jie Wang and Bin Zhou demonstrated and taught basic skills, allowing students to have a close encounter with masters, experiencing firsthand the challenges of "a minute on stage, ten years off stage."


Furthermore, to allow students to further experience Peking Opera elements and deeply understand its dressing and performance elements, makeup artist Zhao Min-Ru provided students with makeup and costume experiences, as well as introduced details such as role appearance, hair accessories, body posture, and stage steps. Yi-Shu Li continued by introducing the characteristics of the pipa instrument and performed the song "Blue and White Porcelain," allowing students to fully experience the charm of Peking Opera through the combination of music and visuals. Finally, Guan-Cheng Chen and Bin Zhou performed "The Fork in the Road" in the form of mime. This piece, adapted from the Yang Family Generals, is considered one of the most classic traditional martial arts performances in Peking Opera. In this performance, there was no dialogue or singing, and only a table was on stage. It was in this silent space that the actors vividly portrayed the story through highly difficult physical movements, leading students to understand the essence and depth of Peking Opera.


The Renaissance Peking Opera Troupe will perform "The Clever County Official" at 7:30 PM on May 24th at the Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts and Culture in Kaohsiung. The play tells the story of a national uncle who forcibly kidnaps a civilian girl but is ultimately brought to justice with the help of a county official's intervention and schemes. Those interested in Peking Opera are welcome to attend the performance.