Face - Changing in Sichuan Opera

Face - changing in Sichuan opera is a unique and fascinating art form, deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Sichuan, China. As an essential element of Sichuan opera, it vividly demonstrates the profound charm of traditional Chinese performing arts. This distinctive skill not only enriches the expressiveness of the opera but also attracts a large number of audiences both at home and abroad.

The origin of face - changing can be traced back to ancient times. In ancient Sichuan, people painted their faces with various colors to frighten away wild beasts. Later, Sichuan opera artists introduced this face - painting technique onto the stage, gradually evolving it into the unique art of face - changing.

Over time, the art of face - changing has continuously evolved. During the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, Sichuan opera witnessed a prosperous period. Many outstanding artists emerged, and they made remarkable contributions to the development of face - changing. For instance, in the play Guizhenglou, the character Bei Rong used face - changing to outwit the chasing officers and soldiers. Initially, paper masks were used for face - changing. Later, artists like Cao Junchen and Kang Zilin made improvements, making the face - changing technique more sophisticated.

Face - changing in Sichuan opera can be classified into several types. Whole - face change involves the entire face changing, either by altering the makeup or the color. For example, in Zhizhongshan, Yue Yangzi changes from a black face to a white face. Partial - face change only modifies a part of the face. Techniques like “wiping violent eyes” and “changing half - face” fall into this category. Mask change uses masks made of various materials, such as wood, paper, and silk. And skill - based change relies on the actors’ oral, hand, and leg skills to complete the face - changing process.

There are mainly four methods of face - changing: wiping face, blowing face, pulling face, and face - changing by qi - control.

Wiping Face

Wiping face is relatively simple. The actor pre - applies greasepaint to specific areas on the face. During the performance, by turning around, lowering the head, or using a cape to cover, the actor wipes the face to change its color. Characters like Xu Xian in The Legend of the White Snake use this method.

Blowing Face

Blowing face requires a small box filled with powder placed on the stage. When the actor approaches the box and blows, the powder flies onto the face, changing its color. This method is often used in plays where the character needs to show a sudden change in emotion.

Pulling Face

Pulling face is the most complex and widely - known method. The actor attaches multiple layers of facial makeup to the face with strings. By pulling the strings, the actor can change the facial makeup one by one. Liu Zhongyi, a famous Sichuan opera artist, perfected this technique.

Face - Changing by Qi - control

Face - changing by qi - control is a highly challenging method. The actor uses internal energy to change the color of the face. Although it is rarely seen, it showcases the extraordinary skills of Sichuan opera actors.

Face - changing in Sichuan opera is not just a performing skill; it is also an important carrier of traditional Chinese culture. It reflects the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese people and plays a crucial role in the inheritance and development of traditional culture.