Beijing Opera Stage Set-up In the past, stages in most Chinese
theaters were square platforms exposed to the audience on three
sides, even all sides sometimes. In the latter case,
performances could be watched from the back also. An embroidered
curtain known as a shoujiu was hung over the platform, which was
thus divided into two parts: the back stage and the stage. In
front of the curtain, stood a table on which were laid various
musical instruments to be used for the performance, and
musicians were seated nearby. That table, together with
musicians, occupied a part of the facade of the stage and could
be seen by the audience. That is why the Peking Opera orchestra
has traditionally been known as Changmian which means stage set-
up. When Peking Opera began taking shape, its singing was
accompanied by two flutes only, known as Shuangshoudi (dual
flutes)-the chief Dizi and the assistant Dizi. With such simple
accompaniment, the opera actors felt the singing was rather
strenuous and lacked flexibility, though th