Transcript Beijing Opera masks - Learning Chinese with Online Activities

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
(1271-1368) dynasties at
least. Simple patterns of
painted faces are found in
tomb murals of that age.
During the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644),
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,
黑色 hēi sè
When used as the chief
colour,
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symbolizes loyalty,
faithfulness and courage.

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, HouYi with a purple three-tile
face was a grain officer versed in black magic in the opera "
Green Dragon Pass”.
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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.
jīng jù liǎn pú
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
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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…