What is the purpose of the Beijing opera mask?

Answer 1

Long before stage make-up and special effects, actors wore masks to show the emotions their character was feeling. Historians know that even in ancient times, story-tellers often used masks in the process of acting out a particular fable. In China, masks were used in what was then called the Peiking Opera (today, the English spelling has changed to Beijing, which is closer to the actual Chinese sounds) as early as 1790, and they became a common custom in theater. The masks had a meaning that would be understood in a culture, since they made use of certain colors that were identified with certain emotions.

The masks could indicate that a character was loyal, or honest, or deceitful, or courageous. For example, a mask where the dominant color was green showed the character was brave, but it might also show he was brutal or stubborn. A mask with the dominant color of red generally signified a character who was loyal, faithful and courageous. But some masks were a blend of colors, indicating that the character had some complex emotions and as the plot unfolded, you would find out more about him or her. I enclose a good link about the history of some of these masks, with examples of how they were used.