MAKEUP IN THE OPERA OF

BEIJING

Alberto Espinal Rodríguez

Work for CHARACTERIZATION. 3rd of
SCENOGRAPHY
 MAKEUP IN THE OPERA OF
BEIJING

A work by Alberto Espinal Rodríguez for

Characterization. 3rd year of scenography
 INDEX

THE CHINESE OPERA. Page 6

MAKEUP IN THE OPERA OF

BEIJING. Page 7

IMAGES. Page 14
 THE CHINESE OPERA
Chinese opera is alongside Greek tragicomedy and the
Sanskrit opera India the most dramatic manifestation
oldest in the world.

Chinese opera has its best-known representative in

the "Beijing opera", which has its origins in the
"huibam", a type of popular opera in southern China
throughout the 18th century. It was in the year 1790 when it arrived
in Beijing the first group of 'huibam' with the aim of
celebrate the emperor's birthday. Starting from
then the Huibam began to spread across the
city and therefore throughout the country through the opera of
Beijing, from then on known as the Opera
Chinese National.

The Beijing Opera is conceived as a comprehensive work.

including singing (chang), recitation (nian),
representation (zuo) and martial arts (da). They tell thus
legends, historical tales and describe the life of
some characters.
The Beijing opera began to become known in
the West thanks to artists Mei Lanfang and Cheng
Yankees who traveled on tour through various countries, but it was
since the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949
when various groups began to travel around the world
making the Beijing opera known, since then, the
Beijing opera is considered one of the greats.
samples of what a purely representation is
oriental.

MAKEUP IN THE OPERA OF

BEIJING
The makeup of Beijing opera originated
remembering the masks used in the dances of
the Tang and Song dynasties, in addition to the masks used
for the characters that represented gods and
demons in Yuan's opera. The makeup was
expanding through local operations and due to the
the needs of interpretation. The makeup of the opera
Beijing is known as 'facial makeup'.

The makeup of Beijing opera is used to exaggerate

both physical and mental traits, is elaborated and
grotesque, in this way shows the characteristics of
each character relating to age, appearance, status,
feelings, morals, and mentality; in addition to allowing that
the farthest rows of the audience can recognize the
gestures of the characters. Makeup is also used.
as a way through which the actor enters into a
feeling of empathy with the character. Through the
makeup, which works as a disguise, can be
to come to identify the plot of a work.

Colorants are used for the creation of makeup.

mixed with oils that allow the makeup to be
very resistant. The method of preparation varies between each
artist, since it can be applied in various ways
different. In some cases, they are used directly the
fingers, in other cases the brushes. The method of application
it also differs between characters and works, one must take into account
it is said that makeup is not just that, but
it is also a way of ritual expression:

. In martial arts works, the makeup of

the protagonist applies it with her fingers, rubbing
about the face.

. Faces are painted with strokes of the

military personnel, using brushes for that, striving
in a special way in the application of the
tones. In addition, the eye sockets are painted,
straight or arched eyebrows and different lines.

. For the wicked ministers, the eyebrows are highlighted,

the eye sockets are drawn in an angular shape,
 they also paint one or two stripes
"perversity" on the cheeks known as
"fly legs", the entire face is painted with a
white base.

When makeup began to be used, it was solely

three predominant colors, black, red, and the
white. But over time the number increased
in colors, also using blue, violet,
yellow, green, pink, gray, golden and the
silver. According to a scholar named Weng Ouhong, the
the increase in colors arose out of necessity, because there was no
the ancient three colors were enough to differentiate a
a large number of characters, so the artists most
ingenious ones searched in literary texts to find
new colors, also, thanks to this search
derivatives of colors began to be used
primaries, such as white oil or yellow
ginger, also began to use artificial hair.

Through makeup, they managed to create not only

multitude of human characters, but also
they managed, through the lines and hair, to reproduce
various identifying features of some animals of a
symbolic mode. For example, one could create
panthers with round eyes, phoenix-eyed head, nose
of the lion...

The makeup of Beijing opera is varied, although

follows fixed patterns that are responsible for describing the
character. The patterns can vary between characters and
even among different works. The different colors and the
forms create the characteristics of the character.

. If the makeup is red, it means that the

the character is loyal. It also represents heroes,
that is to say, bravery and integrity.

. If it is violet, it symbolizes generosity and bravery.

. If it is black it symbolizes honesty, openness, the

impartiality and hardness.

. If it is white, cunning and cruelty. Also

represents the intellectuals and the change of
Cheer up. If it's the color of soy cheese, it represents the
servility and baseness.

. If it is blue boldness, firmness and power, also the

bravery.

. If it is yellow, it indicates ferocity and wisdom.

. If golden and silver colors are used, they usually

to represent superior characters as gods,
gods or fantastic and unreal characters.

Colors can also represent consanguinity,

using the same colors or designs and drawings. The
intensity and the size of the face painted a color
indicate how much of that trait the character has.
In addition to the colors, the designs can also
represent various characteristics of the characters:

. The face painted with snakes, insects, fish or

shrimp represents a spirit of water or of the
mountain.

. The face of austerity represents a loyal minister.

or a pious son.

. The eyes painted in the shape of a kidney and the eyebrows

how clubs represent a monk.

. Eyes like birds and small lips

they represent a eunuch.

There are also specific characters from the opera of

Beijing that are identified by characteristic elements:

. Cao Cao and Yan Song have their faces painted with
white

. Guang Yu has his face painted red from

austerity, representing their tendency towards the
friendship and brotherhood.

. Bao Zeng has his face painted black and eyebrows

in the shape of a spoon.
 In Beijing opera, four types are distinguished.
personajes: Sheng (papel masculino), Dan (papel
female), Ping (painted face) and Chou (clown). The
different roles are also divided into different
subclasses:

. Sheng (masculine paper)

. The elderly man, who has a beard.

. The young man, who does not have a beard.

. The warrior, who wears garments that symbolize

armors.

. Dan (female role)

There are many female characters, there is the young one, the one of
mature age, the serene and gentle one, the naive one, the dissolute one,
those who know martial arts and the elderly.

. Ping (painted face)

He is always a male character and is sincere and

liberal, besides being quite rude and cunning, carries the
face painted in various colors and some are
specialized in acrobatics.
. Chou (the clown)

He/She has the tip of his/her nose painted white and

It can be of two types. It can be a character.
positive, that is kind, funny, and cheeky.
It can also be a negative character, that is,
traitor, cunning and foolish.

El Chou was the first to make use of painting.

facial. The makeup of the show is simpler,
while that of the Ping (strong man),
also called hualian (face heavily painted)
it is more complex and overloaded, being able to recreate a great
number of characters.
 IMAGES

Opera interpreter of Beijing

Interpreter of Beijing opera. With a beard and mustache
hairpieces
Makeup of the Beijing opera
Makeup of the Beijing Opera
Beijing opera makeup
Different makeup styles in the Beijing opera
Representation in Beijing opera
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
STUDIES

Prof. Susy Higa: The Chinese Opera

Chinese Cultural Center: The Beijing Opera and its

makeup (Bulletin No. 5, May 2008)

ARTICLES ON WEBS

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Makeup at the Beijing opera

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Fascinating makeup