Taiwanese opera blurs gender roles, with women playing warriors and men mastering female grace. As the art form evolves, it reflects Taiwan’s shifting societal norms, embracing modern storytelling and diverse perspectives.
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00:00It's a battle of wits and strength on stage, and it's also a challenge to strict gender
00:14roles.
00:15Spear in hand, this warrior looks like a heroic man, but under the makeup is a woman.
00:20In this operatic art form created in Taiwan, women have long played male roles.
00:26This warrior on stage is portrayed by Sun Shi Pei, one of the many women continuing
00:30the legacy of Taiwanese opera.
00:36For performers like Sun, their transformation begins long before stepping onto the stage.
00:56Those dreams come to life when Sun and other female actors become male characters on stage.
01:12Those transformations also happen when male actors take on female roles.
01:24Taiwanese opera, or ge zai xi, originated as a male-dominated art form.
01:29In the early days, all roles, including female characters, were performed by men.
01:34But over time, there was a dramatic shift.
01:36Today, it's mostly women who take the stage, with female performers embodying male lead
01:42roles.
01:43Legends like Yang Lihua have become national icons through their portrayal of emperors,
01:47warriors, and princes, leaving lasting impressions on audiences.
01:52Some have even made history, like Chen Yalan, who was the first woman to win Taiwan's most
01:56prestigious television award in a male category.
02:10Chen's historic win inspired countless performers.
02:14Jian Yulin has led a Taiwanese opera troupe in rural eastern Taiwan for nearly two decades.
02:19For Jian, Chen's victory was greater than just personal recognition.
02:23She says it represents the openness of Taiwanese society.
02:38Taiwanese opera started informally.
02:41At first, people would gather around to listen to each other tell stories.
02:45Eventually, they set up stages to perform those stories, in open spaces next to temples,
02:50which have been community hubs for Taiwanese people throughout history.
02:53Over the years, opera performances have continued to reflect the lives of everyday people, evolving
02:58with society's changing values.
03:29Taiwanese opera has long embraced avant-garde themes, making space for theater groups like
03:35this one called Yixin Taiwanese Opera Troupe to experiment with daring same-sex love stories
03:40in modern storytelling.
03:59Taiwanese opera is a living reflection of Taiwan's evolving society.
04:16As long as society continues to change, Taiwanese opera will continue to grow with it, reflecting
04:21social changes and inspiring new ways of thinking.
04:25Joseph Wu, Piji Zhuang, Billy Wu and Ken Skranta for Taiwan Plus.