 Peking Opera has a more than 200-year history and is the national opera of China. It is popular among Chinese and people of other nationalities alike for its dramatic presentation of Chinese culture and history. Facial painting plays an important role in Peking Opera; it is used as a means to denote characters. For instance, a red face usually depicts the individual’s valor, integrity and loyalty; a white face illustrates the figure's wickedness, deceitfulness and cunning; a green face reveals surly obstinacy, rashness and lack of self-control. In addition, the pattern of the facial painting tells a lot about the character. Our Peking Opera masks cover many important figures in Chinese history and fiction. There is a story behind each character. The beautiful facial painting and exquisite costume of each individual will add a sense of culture to your home. Painstakingly handpainted, these masks open the door of understanding of this high art form by enabling you to lean about the character that wears the mask in the opera itself.
There are four main roles in Peking Opera: Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou.
Sheng is the leading male actor and is divided into Laosheng, who wears a beard and represents an old man; Xiaosheng, who represents a young man; Wusheng, who plays as a military man and is good at doing acrobatic stunts; Wawasheng, who plays as a kid. These roles usually wear no facial painting.
Dan is a female character. Formerly, the term meant a female impersonator. It is divided into many categories. Laodan are the old ladies; Caidan, the female comedians; Wudan, military or non-military women capable of martial arts. The most important category, Qingyi, usually play as respectable and decent ladies in elegant costumes. Huadan represent lively and clever young girls, usually in short costumes.
Jing, mostly male, are the characters with facial painting who represent warriors, heroes, statesmen, adventurers and demons. Jing is generally categorized into Zhengjing, Fujing and Wujing.
Chou refers to clowns who are characterized by a white patch on the nose. Usually white patches of different shapes and sizes have dissimilar connotations about a person’s character. Clowns are not necessarily rascals; often they embody wit, vigilance and humor. It is them who keep the audience amused and they improvise quips at the right moment to alleviate tension in some serious plays.
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Liu Bei 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.
Liu Bei was known as an exemplary feudal ruler. Implementing the policy of benevolence, he laid stress on moral education. He cherished love for both commoners and the talented. The affection between him and his adopted brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei is a much-told Chinese tale. Liu Bei wears the typical facial makeup for Laosheng (middle-aged or older positive male character, usually with a beard). | | Xiao Sheng 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.
Xiao Sheng is one of the five fortune Gods in Chinese culture. He specialized in administering treasures in his time. | | Monkey King 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.--sold out!
Monkey King Sun Wukong is a well-known character in A Journey to the West, a classic Chinese novel loved by everyone in China. The Monkey King has mastered the magic arts of longevity, the 72 transformations of his physical body and can do somersaults in clouds. |
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Sichuan Opera Masks 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.
These are masks from Sichuan Opera, one of five major provincial operas in China. Sichuan Opera is known for its comic effects. A character could change his facial makeup right on the stage a hundred times, performing the role of a magician. | | Sichuan Opera Masks 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.
These are masks from Sichuan Opera, one of five major provincial operas in China. Sichuan Opera is known for its comic effects. A character could change his facial makeup right on the stage a hundred times, performing the role of a magician. | | Sichuan Opera Masks 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.
These are masks from Sichuan Opera, one of five major provincial operas in China. Sichuan Opera is known for its comic effects. A character could change his facial makeup right on the stage a hundred times, performing the role of a magician. |
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Sichuan Opera Masks 3.54x5.32x0.98 in.
These are masks from Sichuan Opera, one of five major provincial operas in China. Sichuan Opera is known for its comic effects. A character could change his facial makeup right on the stage a hundred times, performing the role of a magician. | | Mu Guiying 5.71x8.47x1.58 in.
Mu Guiying was a beautiful woman general in Chinese histroy. For the sake of the Chinese national interest, she accepted the role of fighting against invaders of China at about 50 years of age. | | Emperor of Tang 5.71x8.47x1.58 in.
Tang Tai Zong was the first emperor of Tang dynasty. He used talented people and adopted their advice while in reign. He carried out a series of political and military reforms. China achieved social stability and economic development under his government. |
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Yang Gui Hui 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Yang Gui Hui was the beloved imperial concubine of Emperor Li Longji and one of the four greatest beauties in Chinese history. She excelled in singing and dancing and had great wisdom. She is dressed up as huadan (the vivacious or dissolute women). | | Wang Zhaojun 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Wang Zhaojun was one of the four greatest beauties in Chinese history. She sacrificed herself and married a tribal king for the sake of preserving peace between the Han Chinese and Xiongnu people. | | Bao Gong 5.71x8.47x1.58 in.
Bao Gong was an upright Chief Justice in Chinese history. In the eyes of Chinese people, Bao Gong represents authority, justice and humanness. |
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Guan Yu 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Guan Yu was a brave warrior during the period of The Three Kingdoms, the adopted brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, whose affection for each other is a much-told tale in China. He was loyal, righteous and kind. He is now widely respected by business people in the Chinese community as the Fortune God to bring them good luck and wealth. | | Da Qiao 5.71x8.47x1.58 in.
Da Qiao was the wife of Sun Ce,the King of Wu during the period of the Three Kingdoms. She was known for her great beauty. | | Wan Zhaojun 5.71x8.47x1.58 in.
Wang Zhaojun was one of the four greatest beauties in Chinese history. She sacrificed herself and married a tribal king for the sake of preserving peace between the Han Chinese and Xiongnu people. |
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Monkey King 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Monkey King Sun Wukong is a well-known character in A Journey to the West, a classic Chinese novel loved by everyone in China. The Monkey King has mastered the magic arts of longevity, the 72 transformations of his physical body and can do somersaults in clouds. | | Sun Shangxiang 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Sun Shangxiang was the younger sister of Sun Quan, the King of Wu in the period of the Three Kingdoms. The King used her beauty to lure an enemy King, Liu Bei, to marry her in oder to get a territoy of his back, but the plan eventually failed. | | Zhong Kui 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Zhong Kui is a Chinese folk God of catching ghosts. He was born in Tang Dynasty and one of the "Five Talented Men" from Hunan province. |
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Mulan 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
The Disney cartoon Mulan was based on the Chinese woman warrior Hua Mulan. During Southnorth Dynasty, the Chinese imperial court conscripted soldiers due to border confrontation. Mulan disguised herself as a man and fought in her father's place out of filial piety. She spent twelve years in the army and was later recongnized by the emperor as a woman hero. Our Mulan is ten times more beautiful than the one depicted in the Disney movie and her costume is absolutely gorgeous. Order one to check it out. | | Fan Lihua 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Fan Lihua was a woman general of a tribal kingdom, Xiliang, from the period of Tang Dynasty. She fell in love with the son of a Tang general at a masquerade. Unfortunately, she and her lover had to face each other as enemies on the battlefield when Tang sent troops to conquer Xiliang. | | Mu Guiying 8.47x13.39x1.58 in.
Mu Guiying was a beautiful female general in Chinese history. For the sake of the Chinese national interest, she accepted the task of fighting invaders at the age of 50. |
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