Grade 8
Opera Mask Project
Objectives/Concepts
1. Students will become familiar with Peking Opera.
2. Students will recognize symbolism in peking opera such as colors in make-up and costumery.
3. students will recognize and overcome stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans in
performing arts and media.
4. Students will design and create their own masks using the symbolism evident in peking opera
masks.
Theme/Subject
Peking opera (also known as Beijing Opera) has a history of over 200 years. The music
originated from Xipi and Erhuang, in Anhui and Hubei, respectively, and over time techniques
from many other local operas were incorporated.
Peking opera began when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing after 1790.
Peking opera developed quickly during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the Empress
Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, and eventually became more accessible to the common
people.
Long ago, Beijing Opera was performed on open-air stages in markets, streets, teahouses, or
temple courtyards. In order to be heard over the crowds, the orchestra was forced to play loudly
while the performers had to develop a piercing style of singing. The stages were lit by oil lamps
and were so dim that the costumes were intentionally designed to be gawdy and made from
harsh, contrasting colors.
Peking Opera is a harmonious combination of Grand Opera, Ballet and acrobatic display, In each
performance, there is dancing, dialogue, monologue, acrobatic combat and mime. This type of
opera is thus more physically demanding, requiring an actor or actress to be more diversely
qualified than those in other forms of performing art. He or she has to be a performing artist, a
singer, and a dancer at the same time. It usually takes the student more than ten years of training
to learn singing and acrobatic skills. Therefore, it is often extremely difficult and challenging to
become an able performer in Peking Opera.
Read/research representation/symbolic meaning of colors in Chinese Opera.
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Opera/
http://www.cicpa-us.org/introduction-to-beijing-opera.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_opera
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/112926/jingxi
1. Read the brief introduction to Beijing Opera on the previous page.
2. Go to this website and find the following chart
color
meaning in Beijing Opera
additional notes
red
black
yellow
purple
blue
white
green
painted
petty face
Gold/Silver
3. design/draw your own mask, you will need to follow the meaning of Chinese Opera when
choosing colors. (you may look up designs on the internet to get ideas) Mount the painted mask
on a paper plate.
4. Writing (on 8 x 11 paper, you may type it): identify each color and write the Chinese word for
each.
Describe each color by using the following structure for each color. Look up translation
(translate.google.com, copy and paste the characters and pinyin)
红色：我很忠心 (do not use "verb to be" in between subject and adjective. Use 很
hēisè :wǒ hěn zhōngxīn (red color: I am loyal.)
List all the colors you use. You will characters, pinyin, and English.
5. Due date:
6. Grading Rubric: on time 10%, completeness 20%, drawing 35%, writing 35%