The movements of the waist and legs are powerful, and a high level of martial arts skills is demanded in these roles.Duanda Wushengroles use short-handled weapons, and their movements are light and swift. The generals always carry long pikes.Wushengroles call for sturdy and vigorous actions, with resounding declamations. They are further subdivided intoChangkao Wuheng,Duanda Wusheng, Goulian Wusheng and Houxi Wusheng.They always wear helmets and thick-soled boots. Wushengstands for all of the male characters who appear in battle scenes. They always sing in their real voices, while inKunquandPihuangoperas the singing mixes natural and falsetto voices. Xiaoshengis a sub-category ofShengrepresenting young male characters. They sing in their natural voices, and their actions are serious ones. Most are upright and resolute characters. Laoshengis also known asXusheng, meaning bearded, because the actors wear artificial beards, as they are middle-aged or elderly men. According to the age and social status of the characters,Shengfalls into five sub-groups:Laosheng, Xiaosheng,Wusheng, Hongsheng and Wawasheng(characters of children).

This role appears in operas in all historical periods. Sheng, a male role, usually a leading one, dates back to Southern Dramaof the Song and Yuan Dynasties (960-1368). These roles have the natural features of age and sex, as well as social status, and are artificially exaggerated by makeup, costume and gestures. In Peking Opera, there are four roles: the male and female roles, the painted-face role, and the comedic role.

Wudan peking opera