Symbolism of Chinese opera masks

There are four known categories of opera facial painting. These are:

• personality makeup – refers to facial designs or painted faces (Lian Pu),

• decorative makeup – means decorated faces,

• mood makeup – refers to altering facial designs, and

• pictographic makeup – refers to animal-like facial designs or decorations.

Specifically, personality makeup (Lian Pu) is initially derived from an individual’s everyday life encounters or experiences characterized by changes of expressions. These facial expressions include while for fear, dark for suntan, sallow for illness, and red for shyness.

Furthermore, different colors are also used to symbolize various characters that play in the opera, which are:

• purple – symbolizes candor, loyalty, and uprightness;

• red – symbolizes faithfulness, courage, and loyalty;

• black – symbolizes honesty and firmness, or perhaps temerity;

• blue - symbolizes stubbornness, valor, and intractability; and

• green - symbolizes brutality, despotism, and bravery, likewise irascibility and vehemence;

• yellow - symbolizes insidiousness and brutality; and

• white - may have various meanings such old or white-haired individual, or perhaps a cruel, crafty, or headstrong individual with authority.

• silver and gold - symbolize spirits, such as gods, spirits, ghosts, and demons.

Generally, opera masks are made up of ceramic material. And while in blank face, the performer or perhaps a makeup artist can design or decorate the face with detailed and decorative artwork defining and enhancing more the character and thus establishes the role. While there are masks made of simple materials such as paper and tissue, there are also those of which base are made of silk.

Opera masks make it possible for a single performer or actor to cover various roles or characters in one show. This means that a performer can change faces several times as required. Use of masks actually makes changing faces feasible, easier, and manageable even by a sole performer.