performance and character within digital way: humour and humourist in Traditional Chinese Opera----- Chou actor

Basic on my research aim, to investigation of humor with in English and Chinese animation,I would like to explain humour culture behind animation first.

This time I will talk about Chinese humour and humourist in traditional chinese opera which was a fashionable and main way of entertainment in the past.

There are 10 roles in the Peking Opera, "The ten Chinese characters shown on the left probably say everything about the roles in Beijing Opera. The top five characters list the five role catagories. The rest tells what roles appear in the plays, from the powerful supernatural beings to animals like tigers and dogs. There are currently four main role categories in Beijing Opera."( It's China)

the top four characters "Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou," for instance, are just the terms for four different types of roles. Every type has its telltale facial makeup and decoration.

"Sheng,

Dan,

Jing,

Chou,

“丑角” in English is "Chou"

The Chou (丑) is a male clown role. The Chou usually plays secondary roles in a troupe.(Wichmann, Elizabeth ,1991, p.12)

"Chou" is a humourist in Traditional Chinese Opera, his performances are similar to a clown, the meaning of clown in the Chinese dictionary is the same as ''Chou''.

Lastly there is the Chou or comedy actor who generally plays the role of a dim but likeable and amusing character with blinking eyes and all the appropriate gestures. Sometimes the Chou can be a rascal, with a slightly wicked nature. Alternatively a scholar or prince--an eccentric or representing the sort of a scholar or prince who would not command much respect. Chou parts can be divided into two types: Wen Chou, who is usually a civilian, such as a jailer, servant, merchant or scholar; and Wu Chou, who performs minor military roles as a soldier and must be skilled in acrobatics. His costume is either elaborate or fussy if of high social standing, but simple if of a low standing. (It's China)

Indeed, most studies of Peking opera classify the Chou as a minor role. Chou is the meaning "ugly". This reflects the traditional belief that the clown's combination of ugliness and laughter could drive away evil spirits. Chou roles can be divided into Wen Chou, civilian roles such as merchants and jailers, and Wu Chou, minor military roles. The Wu Chou is one of the most demanding in Peking opera, because of its combination of comic acting, acrobatics, and a strong voice. Chou characters are generally amusing and likable, if a bit foolish. Their costumes range from simple for characters of lower status to elaborate, perhaps overly so, for high status characters. Chou characters wear special face paint, called xiaohualian, that differs from that of Jing characters. The defining characteristic of this type of face paint is a small patch of white chalk around the nose. This can represent either a mean and secretive nature or a quick wit.^-----TYFO.COM Unknown Author (2000).

There is a famous session named ''San cha kou''
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0tqAn5MQ3c&feature=related
there is a popular saying that: "without chou not opera." It can be seen that chou represents typical humor culture as part of ancient Chinese people's life, and also influences modern life.

Chinese animation reflects the culture of peking opera, most early Chinese animation recreates classic Opera, it can be seen that Traditional Chinese Opera influences early Chinese animation.