CHINESE OPERA MASKSTUDY GUIDE

The meaning behind 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).

Chinese Opera Mask Examples

                                                

                                                                           

Chinese Opera Mask, Zhang Fei Black Color

Black symbolizes roughness and fierceness. The black face indicates either a rough and bold character or an impartial

and selfless personality. Typical of the former are General Zhang Fei (of the

Romance of the Three Kingdoms) and Li Kui (of Water Margin), and of the latter is Bao Gong (alias Bao Zheng), the semi-

legendary fearless and impartial judge of the Song Dynasty.

Return to Chinese Opera Colors

                                              

                                                                             

Chinese Opera Mask, Guan Yu Red Color

Red indicates devotion, courage bravery, uprightness and loyalty. A

typical "red face" is Guan Yu, general of the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), famed for his

faithfulness to his Emperor, Liu Bei.

                                               

                                                                            

Chinese Opera Mask, Lian Po Purple Color

Purple stands for uprightness, sophistication and cool-

headedness). The reddish purple face likewise shows a just and noble

character, for instance, Lian Po in the well-known play Lian Po He (The

General Reconciled with the Chief Minister), in which General Lian was proud and impetuous and quarreled with the chief minister to whom he

was ultimately reconciled.

                                              

                                                                             

Chinese Opera Mask, Tu Xingsun Yellow Color

Yellow signifies fierceness, ambition and cool-headedness.

                                             

                                                                              

Chinese Opera Mask, Xia Houdun Blue Color

Blue represents staunchness, fierceness and astuteness.

                                               

                                                                            

Chinese Opera Mask, Cao Cao White Color

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.

                                             

                                                                              

Chinese Opera Mask, Zheng Wun Green Color

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.

Describe Yourself(Answer these questions…)Who are you? What things make you who you are?

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Sketch out two designs for your mask.

Does your mask describe your personality? How?

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Creating a Chinese Opera Mask

My Students’ Examples

Resources

• http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Opera/index.html

• http://www.chinesenames.org/name-translation/j/j13.htm