Brief Studies on the History of Beijing Opera

The history of Beijing Opera can be devided into five phases. From the year of Sanqinghui, it came to Beijing to the following fifty years, it is the first phase that Beijing Opera came into being. The period from 1840 to 1917 was the second phase that Beijing Opera flourished. When TAN Xin-pei passed away in 1917, Beijing Opera entered its third phase, in which it achieved the most prosperous state. It came into the fourth phase after 1937, and model drama was the theme of this period. After 1976, Beijing Opera entered its fifth phase. In 1990s, Beijing Opera declined, while some regional dramas became refined. However, Beijing Opera never stopped making progress. At the end of 20th century, Beijing Opera tried to prepare the way of the following century.