平劇臉譜Chinese Opera Mask

Jing (淨 )

Chou (丑 )

Romance of Three Kingdoms

• A novel based on the historical events taking place toward the end of the Han Dynasty in the late 2nd century

• About the struggle and conflicts among the warlords

• About betrayal, courage, determination, friendship, loyalty and trust among the people

Storyline of The Battle of Red Cliff(Chi Bi 赤壁 )

Jiang Gan蔣幹

Cao Cao曹操

Zhou Yu周瑜

Huang Gai黃蓋

Pang Tong龐統

WeiWu

Storyline of Oath of the Peach Garden(桃園三結義 )

Liu Bei劉備

Zhang Fei張飛

Guan yu關羽

“When saying the names Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, although the surnames are different, yet we have come together as brothers. From this day forward, we shall join forces for a common purpose, and come to each other’s aid in times of crisis. We shall avenge the nation from above, and pacify the citizenry from below. We seek not to be born on the same day, in the same month and in the same year. We merely hope to die on the same day, in the same month and in the same year. May the gods of heaven and earth attest to what is in our hearts. If we should ever do anything to betray our friendship, may the gods in heaven srtike us dead.” -an excerpt from Romance of the Three Kidgdoms/Chapter 1.

Colors in Beijing Opera Masks

• Colors to represent an idea or personality

• Painted faces with various colors and patterns to portray a certain character

• Each color is a symbol for different personality traits.

Color symbolizes:

Color Character Mask Meaning

Guan Yu關羽

Devotion, courage, bravery,uprightness and loyalty. Guan Yu is famed for his faithfulness to his Emperor, Liu Bei.

Color symbolizes:

Color Character Mask Meaning

Zhang Fei張飛

Bravery, honesty and fierceness. Zhang Fei is a very bold and fearless character in the story.

Color symbolizes:

Color Character Mask Meaning

Cao Cao曹操

Sinisterness, treacherousness and craftiness. It highlights all that is bad in human nature: cunning, craftiness and treachery.

Color symbolizes:

Color Character Mask Meaning

Yuwen chengdu宇文成都

Cruel, merciless, calculating and deceitful.

Other Colors:

Impulsive and violent

Staunchness,fierceness

uprightness, sophistication and cool-headedness

Gods, spiritsAstrology,divination