Cross dressing in Peking Opera Transgender in China

a beijing opera or peking opera performer.

sinologists theatrical arts when imaging china in transgender frame because of prominent presence of cross-gender behavior.

peking opera, known beijing opera, had male actors playing female dan characters. men traditionally played women’s roles due women being excluded performing in front of public. although, before 1978, male female cross dressing theatrical performances, used comedic effect or disguise character in order commit crime or defeat enemies. female male characters considered heroic in theatrical performances.

within ming , qing dynasties of china, there lot of cross dressing , transgender practices occurring both onstage , in everyday life. within theatre, elite men intrigued it. role-play, organize own troupes, write , perform theatrical pieces.

many of modern china s stories reflected cross-dressing , living life of different gender short period of time, featuring cross-dressers virtuous, mulan.

li yu, writer , entrepreneur, featured gendering of bodies dependent upon men’s desires , operated system of gender dimorphism, assumed social boundaries of time. when li yu created acting troupe, many elite males did, had concubine played male role believed suited male or considered more of masculine gender.

in modern-day peking opera , film, there male female cross dressers , vice versa characters, time periods.