The Significance of Facial Color in Peking Opera

Beijing opera facial makeup is very particular about color, but it seems that colorful facial makeup details appear for a reason, not just to look good. Draw colors with different meanings with different patterns, and the characters are personalized.

red

General: Most people who show loyalty and courage are positive people. For example, Guan Gong.

Others: satire, which means false good people.

Special case: the old man shows that the young red light is still there; Bad guys do good things.

black

General: a person who shows integrity, selflessness and integrity, such as Bao Gong.

Other: indicates yin in yin and yang, used for ghosts, with dark skin or ugly face.

white

General: Represents a person who is insidious, suspicious, flying and shy. Such as Cao Cao.

Others: He Ga, eunuch mask; It means that the old man is old.

purple

General: an upright, steady and calm person.

Others: bad complexion, ugly.

yellow

-on behalf of Xiao Yong, a brave figure, such as Yuwen Chengdou.

golden

General: immortal, superior.

Others: brave soldiers.

green

General: stands for tenacious and irritable personality.

Others: outlaws.

blue

Strong, brave and calculating people, such as Doulton.

Extended data:

Facial makeup is not only rich in colors, but also rich in patterns, which can be roughly divided into forehead, eyebrow, eye socket, nose socket, mouth fork and mouth bottom map. The mode of each part is different, regular and inconclusive, such as:

Bao Zheng has a white crescent on his black forehead, which means he is honest.

Meng Liang has a red gourd on his forehead, indicating that he likes drinking.

Wen Zhong and Yang Jian painted three eyes, which originated from classical legends.

Genies, sand gods and leopards are multifaceted, highlighting their ghostly characteristics.

Yang has a traditional "tiger" on his forehead, which shows his bravery and invincibility.

Zhao Kuangyin's dragon eyebrows are the real dragon emperor.

There is a lightning pattern on Lei Gong's face.

Jiang Wei painted a picture of Yin and Yang on his forehead, indicating a clever plan.

Xia Houdun's eye socket was injured by an arrow, so he drew a red dot on it.

Doulton, Dian Wei and others all have their best weapon patterns on their faces.

Wang Xian drew a toad, indicating that it was the reincarnation of a water beast.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-Peking Opera Mask