Facial makeup can also allow actors to expand the scope of acting and add interest to Peking Opera performances. Artists use several colors and lines to paint the faces of characters. types of facial makeup in Peking Opera is featured by painting brows, eyelids and jowls in various patterns such as bat, swallow wing and butterfly wing.Īccording to different genders, ages and features, each role type has its own makeup type. It highlights all that is bad in human nature: cunning,Ĭraftiness, and treachery.Among all Chinese traditional operas, types of facial makeup in Peking Opera have developed into the most systematic and mature one. Sinisterness, treacherousness, suspiciousness and craftiness.Ĭommonly seen on the stage is the white face for the powerful Proud and impetuous and quarreled with the chief minister to whomĬhinese Opera Mask, Tu Xingsun Yellow Color Yellow signifiesįierceness, ambition and cool-headedness.Ĭhinese Opera Mask, Xia Houdun Blue Color Blue representsĬhinese Opera Mask, Cao Cao White Color White suggests Reconciled with the Chief Minister), in which General Lian was Instance, Lian Po in the well-known play Lian Po He (The General Purple face likewise shows a just and noble character, for Uprightness, sophistication and cool-headedness). Guan Yu, general of the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280),įamed for his faithfulness to his Emperor, Liu Bei.Ĭhinese Opera Mask, Lian Po Purple Color Purple stands for Return to Chinese OperaĬhinese Opera Mask, Guan Yu Red Color Red indicates devotion,Ĭourage bravery, uprightness and loyalty. Three Kingdoms) and Li Kui (of Water Margin), and of the latter isīao Gong (alias Bao Zheng), the semi-legendary fearless and Typical of the former are General Zhang Fei (of the Romance of the The black face indicates either a roughĪnd bold character or an impartial and selfless personality. Patterns that we see in today's Jingju (Beijing Opera).Ĭhinese Opera Mask, Zhang Fei Black Color Black symbolizes Preparing the paints, leading to the whole set of colorful facial (1368-1644), improvements were made in the skills of drawing and in Simple patterns of painted facesĪre found in tomb murals of that age. Makeups date a long time back to the Song (960-1279) and Yuan Makeup symbolizes the disposition of the character.

The meanings behind Chinese Opera MaskThe main color in a facial

Chinese opera makeup meaning