What is the animal on the python robe of a male character in a Peking Opera costume?

The animal on the python robe of a male character in Peking Opera costume is a python.

The python robe in Chinese opera costume is formed on the basis of "python clothes" in Ming and Qing Dynasty, after decoration and beautification. On the opera stage, the color of the python robe is often used to distinguish the identity, status and age of the actors. Python robe is divided into red, bright yellow, apricot yellow, white, blue, green, purple, pink, light lake, light rice, bronze, bean paste, incense color.

The python pattern is a traditional Han Chinese allegorical pattern. Shaped like a dragon. The so-called "five claws for the dragon, four claws for the python", the big just the end of feudal society, as the emperor and ministers of the difference in clothing decoration, so the ministers wear "python robes", do not offend the emperor boundary, but also can not lose the dignity of the officials of the feudal dynasty.

But in later practical use, the use of dragon pattern is not so strict, essentially python and dragon pattern has been mixed.

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The python robe is divided into upper and lower five colors. The upper five colors are red, green, yellow, white and black, while the lower five colors are blue, purple, pink, light green and fragrant.

Bright yellow and apricot yellow are the special colors of python robes for playing the Emperor, the King of Fans, the Prince, and the Great Sage of Qi Tian Da Sheng (the Monkey King), and are not allowed to be used for other roles. If you don't have a yellow or apricot python, you can use a red python instead.

It is customary to wear an apricot python robe when playing the role of the King of the Fans, or to replace it with a purple python robe.

Playing the young commander-in-chief or civil and military officials commonly used light-colored python robe, such as light lake, light pink and white python robe or replace it with a red python robe.

White python robes are common costumes for young officers generals and elderly officials.

Purple, blue, green and black python robes are common for older officials.

Ancient copper, incense color, bean paste and other colors python robe is mainly for playing a higher status, the age of the senior officials to wear.