Where did Bian Lian originate?
The art of Bian Lian originates in Sichuan, in Western China where it is one of the most well-known subgenres of Sichuan opera.
What is the trick of Bian Lian?
The actor can pull down a mask which has previously been hidden on top of their head, changing their face to red, green, blue or black to express happiness, hate, anger or sadness, respectively. The actor drags greasepaint hidden in their sideburns or eyebrows across their face to change their appearance.
What is changing faces in Peking Opera?
Changing faces is a difficult technique in operatic performance. It is considered to be a stunt that can only be mastered after extensive training. Face changing is also a special technique used to exaggerate inner feelings of characters, portray their dispositions, set off the atmosphere and improve effects.
What are Chinese opera masks called?
Jing masks
Like many jumping spiders, Chinese opera masks, or Jing masks, have unique patterns and colors that convey information to their intended audience.
How does face changing magic work?
Performers might use dust or powder to obscure the face so the mask can be changed. The dust or powder might be hidden in the hand or in a small can on the floor of the stage. Face dragging. Greasepaint might be hidden in the sideburns or eyebrows, then dragged across the face to change the appearance or expression.
What do the Colours of Chinese opera masks mean?
Originally, only three colors were used — red, white and black — each with its own symbolic meaning. Red is the color of loyalty, integrity and courage; black suggests a serious and taciturn disposition, including strength and roughness; white reveals a crafty and suspicious character.
How do Bian Lian masks work?
Bian Lian is an art in which the performer will wear brightly colored costumes & ornate opera-themed masks. These masks are the stars of the show, for a bian lian performer can switch between numerous masks in a fraction of a second. Performers might switch between 10-20 masks (or more!) in a single show!
What is Jing in Peking Opera?
The Jing is a role type in Chinese opera for “rough” or “mighty” male characters. In many genres (such as Peking opera and Cantonese opera), this role requires heavy face painting. As a result, it is also known as Hualian (“Painted face”).