Preface
Chapter I Unique Nature of Peking Opera, Formation and Development
Section 1 Charm of Peking Opera
Section 2 Origin of Peking Opera
Section 3 The Art Life of Famous Actors in Peking Opera
Section 4 Masters of Peking Opera in the National Calamity
Section 5 The Innovation of Peking Opera
Chapter II Peking Opera Roles and Masters
Section 1 Origin of Peking Opera Roles
Section 2 Sheng, a Leading Role on the Stage
Section 3 Excellent Dan
Section 4 Rare Jing Performances
Section 5 Chou as the Fundamental Role of Opera
Chapter III Dreamy Peking Opera, Classic Repertoires and Indoctrination
Section 1 Massive Repertoire of Peking Opera
Section 2 Loyal and Righteous Opera
Section 3 Requiting Like for Like
Section 4 Heroes in Opera
Chapter IV Inexhaustible Source, Origin of Chinese Opera
Section 1 Tracing Back to the Beginning of Opera
Section 2 The Formation of Opera
Section 3 Chinese Opera in its Infancy
Section 4 Zaju of the Yuan Dynasty Sees the Golden Age of Opera
Section 5 Kun Opera
Section 6 The Rise of Local Opera
Section 7 Various Types of Local Operas
Section 8 Chinese Opera Going Abroad
Appendix
A Brief Chinese Chronology