Unit 2 Beijing Opera masks

Background information With its fascinating and artistic accompanying music, singing and costumes, the Peking Opera is China's national opera. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents the audience with an encyclopedia of Chinese culture, as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and martial arts.

Since Peking Opera enjoys a higher reputation than other local operas, almost every province in China has more than one Peking Opera troupes. Opera is so popular among Chinese people, especially seniors, that even "Peking Opera Month" has been declared.

Peking Opera has a 200-year-long history Peking Opera has a 200-year-long history. Its main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei respectively and, over time, techniques from many other local operas were incorporated.

It is believed that Peking Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Peking Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Cixi, eventually becoming more accessible to the common people.

In ancient times, Peking Opera was performed mostly on stage in the open air, teahouses or temple courtyards. Since the orchestra played loudly, the performers developed a piercing style of song that could be heard by everyone. The costumes were a garish collection of sharply contrasting colors to stand out on the dim stage illuminated only by oil lamps. Peking Opera is a harmonious combination of the Grand Opera, ballet and acrobatics, consisting of dance, dialogue, monologues, martial arts and mime.

The Peking Opera band mainly consists of an orchestra and percussion band. The former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while the latter provides the right atmosphere for battle scenes.

Chinese Opera Mask, Guan Yu Red Color Red indicates devotion, courage bravery, uprightness and loyalty. A typical "red full face" is Guan Yu, general of the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), famed for his faithfulness to his Emperor, Liu Bei.

Chinese Opera Mask, Zhang Fei Black Color Black symbolizes roughness and fierceness. The black face indicates either a rough and bold character or an impartial and selfless personality. Typical of the former are General Zhang Fei with a black cross butterfly face (of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms) and Li Kui (of Water Margin), and of the latter is Bao Gong (alias Bao Zheng), the semi-legendary fearless and impartial judge of the Song Dynasty

Chinese Opera Mask, Cao Cao White Color White suggests treacherousness, suspiciousness and craftiness. Commonly seen on the stage is the white face for the powerful villain. It highlights all that is bad in human nature: cunning, craftiness, and treachery. Typical characters are Cao Cao, powerful and cruel prime minister in the time of the Three Kingdoms, and Qin Hui, treacherous Song Dynasty prime minister who put the national hero Yue Fei to death. Cao cao with a watery white face is the leading character in the opera "Meeting of the Elite."

Chinese Opera Mask, Jiang Gan Petty Painted Face For the clowns of traditional drama, there is a special makeup called xiaohualian (the petty painted face), i.e., a small patch of chalk on and around the nose to show a mean and secretive character, such as Jiang Gan of the Three Kingdoms who fawned upon Cao Cao.

Chinese Opera Mask, Xia Houdun Blue Color Blue represents staunchness（坚定的）, fierceness and astuteness（机敏的）. Shown is Xiahou Dun with a blue face, Cao Cao's most trusted general in the opera Bowang Slope ."

Questions What are the differences in the costumes of different characters? What are the differences in facial masks for different characters? Why is Guan Yu’s facial mask painted red?

Complete this paragraph with suitable words Beijing Opera is the ____ of the Chinese culture. As such it has become a must-see item to ____ foreigners. But I don’t like its ____singing and noisy _____ . I enjoy the _____ and facial masks better. As a traditional art form, Beijing Opera has problems in ____ to the days theatre goes. It is very slow and _____ Its costumes and facial masks are more attractive. There is a very ____ Ming Dynasty influence on Beijing Opera costumes.

Translation 1.脸谱是塑造人物形象的重要手段。 2.人们可以根据脸谱的颜色分辨角色的善恶 3.没想到京剧的脸谱有这么多的讲究。 4.红色代表忠勇。

assignment Read the passage on page 40 and answer the question: What does the Peking Opera character Zhong Kui look like?