Formative period. Singing and dancing were performed at the Chinese court as early as the Chou dynasty (C.1111-255 BC). An anecdote describes a case of realistic acting in 402 BC, when the chief jester of the court impersonated mannerisms of a recently deceased prime minister so faithfully that the emperor was convinced the minister had been restored to life. Drama was not yet developed, but large-scale masques (a short allegorical performance with masked players) in which dancing maidens and young boys dressed as gods and as various animals ....