Masked for the show
Colour plays a significant role in Chinese opera. It not only
forebodes the personality, status and disposition of the characters but
also heightens the glamour of the creation. Make up of the honest and
kind natured persona differs greatly from those who play negative roles
in the story. In other words the hero's make up enhances his heroic and
just nature while the villain is made to look as ugly as possible. Face
painting is an interesting art which should be explored all together as
each stroke and shade adds a meaning to the character which an actor
takes up.
 Yellow: Signifies fierce nature, ambition and cool-headedness. |
 Green: A green face suggests that the character is impulsive and
violent and depicts surly stubbornness, impetuosity and a total lack of
self-restraint. |
 Red: Indicates devotion, courage bravery, uprightness and loyalty.
Guan Yu, a general of the ear of the Three Kingdoms (220 - 280) is
typically depicted with a red face as he has a reputation of being a
faithful servant to his Emperor, Liu Bei. |
 Black: It indicates eit- her 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. |
 Purple: Stands for up- rightness, sophistication and cool-headedness.
A reddish purple face likewise shows a just and noble character like
Lian Po in the well-known play 'Lian Po He' in which General Lian was
proud and impetuous and quarreled with the chief minister. |
 White: The white face is commonly used for the powerful villain of
the tale. It highlights all that is bad in human nature: craftiness and
treachery. Cao Cao, powerful and cruel prime minister in the time of the
Three Kingdoms, and Qin Hui, treacherous Song Dynasty prime minister.
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 Petty Painted Face
(Xiaohualian)- A special makeup called xiaohualian, a small patch of
chalk on and around the nose is used for clowns in Chinese opera. This
shows a mean and secretive character, such as Jiang Gan of the Three
Kingdoms who fawned upon Cao Cao. |
 Blue: Represents stau- nchness, fierceness and astuteness. |
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