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Peking opera now boasts 15 basic facial patterns, but there are over 1000 specific variations. Each design is unique to a specific character. The patterns and coloring are thought to be derived from traditional Chinese color symbolism and divination on the lines of a person's face, which is said to reveal personality.
Performers wear brightly colored costumes and move to quick, dramatic music. They also wear vividly colored masks, typically depicting well known characters from the opera, which they change from one face to another almost instantaneously with the swipe of a fan, a movement of the head, or wave of the hand.
Peking opera is performed using both Classical Chinese and Modern Standard Chinese with some slang terms added for color. The social position of the character being played determines the type of language that is used. Peking opera features three major types of stage speech (nianbai, 念白). Monologues and dialogue, which make up the majority ...
Beijing opera costumes, 2012. Beijing opera was created in 1790 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing dynasty; however, the origins of its costumes can be traced back to the 14th century. [3] The costumes were set in the Qing dynasty but its style mainly followed the Ming dynasty's hanfu-style clothing.
An early form of Chinese drama is the Canjun Opera (參軍戲, or Adjutant Play) which originated from the Later Zhao Dynasty (319–351 AD). [10] [11] [12] In its early form, it was a simple comic drama involving only two performers, where a corrupt officer, Canjun or the adjutant, was ridiculed by a jester named Grey Hawk (蒼鶻). [10]
A Peking opera mask. In China, masks are thought to have originated in ancient religious ceremonies. Images of people wearing masks have been found in rock paintings along the Yangtze. Later mask forms brings together myths and symbols from shamanism and Buddhism. [35] Sanxingdui Bronze Mask with Protruding Eyes, Shu
Dan is the general name for female roles in Chinese opera, often referring to leading roles.They may be played by male or female actors. In the early years of Peking opera, all dan roles were played by men, but this practice is no longer common in any Chinese opera genre.
Kumadori (隈取) is the stage makeup worn by kabuki actors, mostly when performing kabuki plays in the aragoto style. [1] The term also applies to a painting method in which two brushes are used simultaneously, one for the color and the other used to create shading or other details.