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MAKE-UP, COSTUMES AND PROPS |
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Like the other types of traditional drama, Peking Opera was originally a folk art. It has been suggested that its staging in the open air in the early years led to the use of excessively heavy 7 make-up, using heavy paint in bright colours. The most typical style of make-up is the lines and mask-designs on the faces of the jing role actors. When applying make-up, the first step is to lift the eyebrows, to give the performer an impressive or dignified appearance.
The costumes are themselves objets d'art , based on those of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The colour scheme consists of a variety of hues on backgrounds of bright scarlet, bright green, yellow, white, black and purple, embroidered with golden and silver threads to form magnificent, dazzling, brilliant designs. There are very strict rules as to what kind of costume should be worn, depending on the status and personality of the roles being played. The headdress, especially the headgear for dan roles, is particularly spectacular. Sometimes, however, for special effect, the plain and elegant headdress for some particular character is in striking contrast to the lavishly embellished headdress of the other characters. The properties, too, are ornamented, modified versions of things used on real life; some of them, even mundane objects like weapons, tables or chairs, lanterns or candlesticks, dishes, bowls, trays and bed curtains, are nevertheless exquisite artifacts. In fact the Peking Opera stage resembles a wonderland full of sparkling, eye-catching spectacles.
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