This Chinese opera coat belongs to a ‘sheng’, the male character, one of the four main roles that appear on stage. The others include 'dan' (the female role), 'jing' (the painted face) and 'chou' (the clown). Chinese opera costumes, which have evolved over the centuries during the dynasties of Imperial China, are typically decorated with intricate designs and accessories that portray the age, traits and social status of the character. Also known by the Malay term ‘wayang’, which means ‘performance’, Chinese opera in Singapore can be traced back to the 19th century with the arrival of Chinese immigrants. Up to the 1930s, wayang was a popular performing art, both as a platform for religious worship, as well as a cheap form of entertainment.
