Beijing Opera Face Patterns
Face patterns represent a unique make-up art of the traditional Chinese dramatic form. They follow a set mode in composition, sketching and coloring.
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| Purple: courage and resolution |
white: treacheryroyhalmachination |
Red: stands for royal and uprightness |
Face patterns date far back in history. Ancient Chinese entertainers sometimes wore masks known as “dummy faces”. Mask-wearing dancers of Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties and the non-human impersonators of Yuan Operas further promoted their popularity. In time, following the development of the opera and the needs of the performances, the mask was replaced by the painted patterns. At first only red, white and black colors were used for decoration, while the bolder colors were reserved for demons and monsters and outlaws, and only the eyebrows and sockets were painted. It was not until the Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644) that a fairly complete gallery of face patterns took shape. The Beijing opera face patterns were developed on the basis of the Hubei and Anhui operas, and by borrowing from the kunqu, yiyang and bangzi operas.
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| Gold and Silver: mythical figures |
black: toughness and irascibility |
Yellow: brutality and schemtry |
Only male characters, especially the jing, or” painted face” wear face patterns. They make up exaggerating the most typical characteristics of the roles they play in mental outlook, moral character, sentiment, appearance, age and status. As soon as an actor steps onto the stage, his painted face gives a clear concept of his character-loyal of traitorous, good or evil. Such means of expression have long been accepted by the audiences. Thus various types of characters are represented by having their faces painted with ingenious patterns in different colors. |
