Beijing Opera masks
京剧脸谱
jīng jù liǎn pú
History and symbolic meanings behind colours…
By Ms Yu
Chinese opera has a history dating some 2,000 years. There are
317 types of opera, of which Beijing Opera or Peking opera is
the most important and well-known. The practitioner of Peking
opera is a master athlete -- he must be in top physical shape to
accommodate the rigors of this performance art. Most
performers begin their training from childhood. A well-known
example is Kungfu star Jacky Chan, who started training in Peking
opera as a child. Performers wear extensive makeup; their whole
faces are painted in bright colours. Colourful masks, inspired
from ancient ceremonies and religious symbols, are done by the
actors. The colour of each character's face is significant
as it represents the character's personality and fate.
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Peking Opera (evolved from Kunqu
Opera, an even more ancient type of
drama), is the most popular and
influential opera form. It took shape in
the early 19th century in Beijing and
combines singing, music, chanting,
dancing and martial arts. In over 200
years, Peking Opera has developed over
a thousand plays of high artistic value, as
well as sets of musical modes and
stylized performance movements.
In Mandarin, we call it jīng
jù 京剧。 It literally
means Beijing Opera.
京剧脸谱
jīng jù liǎn pú
The facial makeups date a
long time back to the Song
(960-1279) and Yuan (12711368) dynasties at least.
Simple patterns of painted
faces are found in tomb
murals of that age. During
the Ming Dynasty (13681644), improvements were
made in the skills of drawing
and in preparing the paints,
leading to the whole set of
colourful facial patterns that
we see in today's jīng jù
(Beijing Opera).
First of all, you would want to know what the implications are of the
various colourful patterns of the opera masks (facial makeup).
Every colour in the facial patterns of opera masks, lends itself effectively to
the expression of a definite trait in the character’s personality.
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红色 hóng sè
When used as a main
colour,
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symbolizes loyalty, faithfulness
and courage.
黑色 hēi sè
When used as the chief
colour,
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symbolizes firmness and
honesty. The black face
indicates either a rough and
bold character or an impartial
and selfless personality.
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Gold 金色jīn sè and silver 银色 yín sè
colours are usually used for gods and
spirits.
黄色 huáng sè
Yellow signifies fierceness, ambition and
cool-headedness.
京剧脸谱
jīng jù liǎn pú
The main colour in
a facial makeup
symbolizes the
disposition of the
character.
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Purple Colour 紫色 zǐ sè
Purple stands for uprightness, sophistication and coolheadedness).The reddish purple face likewise shows a just and
noble character, for instance, Hou Yi with a purple three-tile face
was a grain officer versed in black magic in the opera " Green
Dragon Pass”.
Blue Colour 蓝色 lán sè
Blue represents staunchness, fierceness and astuteness. Shown is
Xiahou Dun with a blue pointed three-tile face, Cao Cao's most
trusted general in the opera Bowang Slope."
京剧脸谱
jīng jù liǎn pú
The main colour in
a facial makeup
symbolizes the
disposition of the
character.
Green Colour 绿色 lǜ sè
A green face tells the audience that the
character is impulsive and violent and depicts
surly stubbornness, impetuosity and a total lack
of self-restraint. Zheng Wun with a green
pointed three-tile face plays a general in the
opera "Green Dragon Ps.
京剧脸谱
jīng jù
liǎn pú
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White Colour 白色 bái sè
White suggests sinisterness, treacherousness,
suspiciousness and craftiness. Commonly
seen on the stage is the white face for the
powerful villain. It highlights all that is bad in
human nature: cunning, craftiness, and
treachery. Typical characters are Cao Cao,
powerful and cruel prime minister in the time
of the Three Kingdoms, and Qin Hui,
treacherous Song Dynasty prime minister
who put the national hero Yue Fei to death.
Cao cao with a watery white face is the
leading character in the opera "Meeting of the
Elite."
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Petty Painted Face 小花脸 xiǎo huā lián
For the clowns of traditional drama, there is
a special makeup called xiaohualian (the
petty painted face), i.e., a small patch of
chalk on and around the nose to show a
mean and secretive character, such as Jiang
Gan of the Three Kingdoms who fawned
upon Cao Cao. It is also occasionally
painted on a young page or an ordinary
workingman, often to enhance his wit,
humor or jesting and to enliven up the
performance.
小花脸 xiǎo huā lián
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Opera/China-opera-colors.html
More detailed information on Beijing Opera Masks can be found
on many websites…