Wonder Kid of Peking Opera
Founded in 1790, Beijing (Peking) Opera has been the main form of Chinese entertainment for over 200 years. It all started when the Four Great Anhui Troupes went to Beijing to perform for the Imperial Court, with the royal families present. Although in this time and age, this beautiful national art form has to compete with blockbuster films, TV drama series, home-made internet films, MTV music videos etc …many, many people in Beijing and most parts of China still appreciate it.
The Chinese government encourages the younger generation to participate in Beijing Opera, and like Wang Tao Yang (aka “Wonder Kid of Peking Opera”) many of the younger kids seem to have a natural ability for it.
The acting style is beautiful, and almost mime-like..gesturing and suggesting actions such as looking out a (non-existent) window or knocking on a door. Every single part of Beijing Opera is rich in history and culture: the storyline, the costumes, the make-up, the props, the sets…the characters who are usually emperors, high ranking generals, famous wise-men, gods, spirits..
Watching Beijing Opera is almost like looking into the past being conveyed in an acrobatic and poetic manner. Even at 7 years old, Tao Yang is highly skilled..he can inflect his voice and hold very long notes. In Beijing Opera, subtle movements (like head tilting, hand gestures etc) have certain meanings and you can see in the video how his facial expression and fingers compliments the music.
The photos below are 3 of the 111 young actors within the ages of 7-12 rehearsing in Beijing. It’s a summer camp where they have a final performance, staging the classic Peking Opera “Red Cliff” in the National Center for the Performing Arts of Beijing.
I personally like Beijing/Peking Opera and Kabuki. I can’t watch it for long periods but, I find them very artistic, earthy, and performed from only those who are very talented. You must be very special to be able to do Beijing/Peking Opera and Japanese Kabuki. When in Tokyo, I saw a Kabuki at the Kabuki theatre…I was blown away. Fantastic!!
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/v20495358j2sGbtP4.mp4
Li Zelin is another talented kid…he’s 8 and here he is putting on the distinct Beijing Opera make up
Here he is again, acting with his eyes…
This is Tao Yang in a performance called “Red Cliff” in Beijing
Li Zelin puts on the finishing touch to his beautiful traditional costume
Young kids are trained to move in the correct way…their movements itself tells a story
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Peking Opera is a cultural treasure and heritage that many people appreciate and the Chinese would like to preserve. To be a good Peking Opera performer requires four essential skills and the performers start their training from young. These young children are talented as they already mastered some of the skills at such young age, on top of that they began to gain real stage experience. Their performance are certainly a stage art that anyone would look forward to experiencing. Thank you for this sharing.
Amazing how this kid did it …..not easy after all with long hours of training . he’s so talented and matured looking.True to his name …he was called the wonder kid of Peking Opera.When i was younger i would like watching opera shows and i knew its tough, one got to act,movement, ,behaved differently depends on what role one played tells us a meaning. Every single part of Opera is rich in history and culture.
Well it is good that the Chinese government encourages the younger generation to participate in the opera. Its better when they started young. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
Wow! This kid is amazing! It is not easy to be able to perform in the Chinese Opera. I am thoroughly impressed. It is nice to see that youths are participating in cultural events rather than wasting their life away with games and other samsaric pleasures. AMAZING!
Nice post of a kid with real talent. It is easier to learn when we are younger but it is never too late to learn new things. His talen look like it is inborn, like it was something from a distant past. Perhaps, its like what Sharon said, he gained his talent from a previous life. Whatever it is, he sure has a bright future and for some of us, its never too late to prepare ourselves for a future life where we can continue on karmic journey to unravel our innermost self – full enlightenment.
His facial expression is so expressive and he is so talented! He must have put in a lot of effort in practicing it too.
Another interesting story about reincarnation! He is so amazing! I was looking at the video and I can actually imagine him as in an older body with his costumes on. I wish I can sing like him. Many of the young kids in China are trained in different activities so that they can find the ones that they are interested in and from there they will be taught… It is also 1 of the ways for the parents to ‘show off’ their kids.
I watched the video of the Peking Kid – he’s so talented. It must be a past life thing because his whole face and being is so expressive and he looks like an adult when he sings.
Whenever I see opera costumes like in the last picture of this blog, I’m always reminded of Rinpoche as a small boy in Taipei, being mesmerised by the street opera – especially those dressed up as gods. I think it’s quite amazing that this fascination with the costumed operatic characters was later linked to the figure of Dharmapala Setrap! It just shows how the Dharmic imprints of Rinpoche’s previous lives were so strong.
Now that you mentioned it Sharon, it’s true! the opera costumes do remind me of Setrap as well.
When people speaks about talent, it’s like a god-given thing. I used to wonder how god choose to give more talents to some and some almost appear to be non-existence. I used to think that everyone has a hidden talent. Now I still think everyone has a hidden talent. The only difference is the talent is not god given, but it’s carried forward from previous life!
Very interesting points Sharon! Thanks for sharing! Yeah, it must be from past life imprints.
Yes, I do not understand a word of Chinese that the child Wang Tao Yang is singing. But I admire his hand gestures and movements of his body. His incredible mastery of controlling his voice for long periods. Everything is so perfect. The voice when he sings does not sound like a child but like an adult with a lot of talent. And he is only 7 years old. Some adults go for training in Opera for many years before they are able to perform perfectly. And for Tao Yang he is a wonder kid in the Peking Opera and so talented. I understand in our Dharma teachings we were told that whatever we have done in our past life can be brought into this life to continue. I think Tao Yang would have praticed very hard in past life then take rebirth to continue his profession in this life without having to practice anymore. That is why he can do wonder things when he is very young. His face reminds me of Edward, Henry Ooi’s son.
Wow, this kid is very cool! It is not easy at all to be able to hold those notes. Peking Opera is not exactly an easy pop song to belt out. So impressed!
I am very happy to see that young children are participating in Peking Opera. It is indeed very much part of Chinese culture. It is good that young children are able to appreciate aspects of their own culture. I am sure they are also enjoying themselves.
Such is the attitude towards learning and the appreciation of our own culture.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing.
He got natural talent!