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With a history of more than 300 years, Anhui Opera is widely acknowledged as a formative influence on Peking Opera, one of China's best-known cultural treasures.
The seed of Peking Opera was planted in 1790, when the "Four Great Anhui Troupes" arrived in Beijing for the celebrations of the 80th birthday of the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799). Qianlong, who ruled from 1735 to 1796, is considered to be one of the greatest emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). He visited southern China a number of times, and, according to legend, during a trip to Anhui province he decided to dress as an ordinary citizen and ordered his retainers to do the same.
One day, when Qianlong and his retinue were seeking shelter from an unexpected rain shower, they saw people watching an opera in the ancestral hall of a local family. The emperor is said to have been deeply impressed with the performance.
As his 80th birthday approached, Qianlong ordered his officials to bring Anhui Opera to the court. In response, the Sanqing Troupe, headed by star performer Gao Langting, traveled to the capital and performed for the emperor, who praised the show.
It was the first time Anhui Opera had been performed in Beijing. The operas were originally staged exclusively for the court, and the general public wasn't granted a glimpse until much later.
A short time later, three more leading Anhui troupes - the Sixi, the Chuntai and the Hecun - arrived in Beijing. At the end of the birthday celebrations, the four troupes decided to remain in the capital.
In 1828, several famous troupes from Hubei province arrived in Beijing and began performing jointly with the Anhui troupes. The combination of styles gradually evolved into the distinctive sound of Peking Opera, and eventually became known as "Jingdiao", a style in its own right. The name, which means "capital melody", marked the moment Peking Opera came into existence.
The new form developed quickly under its imperial patrons, but initially only male performers were allowed to participate, and female singers weren't allowed onto the stage until the 1870s.
