In contrast with Peking opera, Sichuan opera, Nanguan, and other ancient forms, Taiwanese opera is rather youthful. In the early days, when the forerunner of Taiwanese opera moved from street shows to the stage, many aspects were borrowed from Beiguan, Jiujia, Fuzhou, and "Tea-Picking" opera styles. The most important influence, however, has remained Peking opera.
相較於京劇、崑曲、南管等古老戲曲，歌仔戲是個年輕劇種，當初歌仔戲的太祖「本地歌仔」，由沿街表演的「落地掃」歌舞形式登上野台時，就吸收了北管、九甲戲、福州戲、採茶戲各種劇種的優點，而其中影響歌仔戲最多的，除了北管，就是京劇。