 |
|
Chinese Opera Masks
The main color in a facial makeup symbolizes the disposition of the character. 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 colorful facial patterns that we see in today's Jingju (Beijing Opera).
Red - indicates devotion, courage bravery, uprightness and loyalty.
Black - symbolizes roughness and fierceness. The black face indicates either a rough and bold character or an impartial and selfless personality.
Yellow - signifies fierceness, ambition and cool-headedness.
Purple- stands for uprightness, sophistication and cool-headedness. (The reddish purple face likewise shows a just and noble character.)
Blue- represents staunchness, fierceness and astuteness.
White - suggests sinisterness, treacherousness, suspiciousness and craftiness. Commonly, the white face for the powerful villain. It highlights all that is bad in human nature: cunning, craftiness, and treachery.
Green - suggests impulsive and violent and depicts surly stubbornness, impetuosity and a total lack of self-restraint.
Petty Painted Face - i.e., a small patch of chalk on and around the nose to show a mean and secretive character. 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.
To learn more about Chinese Opera Masks check out:
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Opera/index.html
For more information on Chinese History and Culture check out:
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/index.html
|
|