Chengdu Sichuan Opera Face – Changing Show
Imagine a stage where the actor’s face changes in a flash of time, from a fierce warrior to an astute elf, in seconds. That is Sichuan Opera face-changing, a beguiling art form rich in Chinese heritage. Face-changing art is most renowned in Chengdu. Next, I will describe the history, ability and other details of face-changing so that individuals who want to travel to Chengdu can better understand Chinese history.
The History of Sichuan Opera Face-changing
The history of the Sichuan Opera face-changing has been traced for centuries. Centuries ago, human beings painted violent patterns on their faces not as a work of art but as a practical method to drive away ferocious animals. With the passage of time, this initial face-painting took on a different form and began to be incorporated into folk acrobatic performances. With the advent of Sichuan Opera, face-changing was adopted in this new art and gradually developed into the magic show seen today.
During the 1930s, in the classical play “Guizhenglou,” the righteous thief Beirong evaded the pursuit of soldiers and officers by changing his face. The performers then used multi-layered paper shell masks, and with fireworks or folding fans as assistants, they removed the masks layer by layer to create a sense of mystery. After countless attempts of numerous generations of Sichuan opera performers, they continued to innovate techniques and materials, making this art more and more exquisite, making face-changing a treasure of Sichuan opera, attracting countless audiences.
Sichuan Opera Face Changing Performance Techniques
Sichuan Opera Face Changing is a display of marvelous skills, which consists mostly of three techniques: “wiping face”, “blowing face” and “pulling face”.
“Wiping face” is similar to a quick magic trick on the face. The actor applies makeup paint in advance on specific parts of the face, and only needs to wipe it faintly with his hands when he’s performing, and the color of the face will change at once. As an example, if you want to change the color of the whole face, the paint is applied on the eyebrows or forehead; if you just wish to change the lower part of the face, it is painted on the nose or cheeks. Xu Xian paints sometimes applying this technique in “The Legend of the White Snake” to vividly illustrate the transformation of his mood.
The “blowing face” is also amazing. Performers use powder cosmetics such as gold powder, black powder or silver powder, and place a small box containing these powders on the stage floor. As they perform prone dance movements, they secretly blow air into the box, and the powder will stick to their faces, changing their faces instantly. This kind of style is normally used to portray characters with sudden changes in emotions, such as Zidu in “Catching Zidu Alive”.
The most gorgeous way is “pulling face” Before the show, the actors create masks painted on silk and secured by silk thread. The masks are pasted on the face one by one, with the silk thread knotted to the clothing. While the performance is ongoing, with dynamic dance movements as the disguise, the actors skillfully pull off the masks one after another, showing a series of different expressions, like a living animation on the faces of the actors! In “The Legend of White Snake”, Purple Gold Cymbal Boy character is able to change into seven or eight faces, which makes the audience marvel at the performer’s superb skills.
There is also a legendary “luck face changing.” It is said that the late great actor Peng Sihong, in portraying Zhuge Liang in “The Empty City Plan,” was so good at qigong that he was able to change his face to express the depth of the character’s emotion after the enemy retreated. Face changing is not only a superficial change, but a powerful way to express the inner world of the character, providing strong drama and visual impact to the performance.
Places to Watch Face-changing in Chengdu
Chengdu boasts a variety of top-notch spots to watch Sichuan Opera face-changing. Shufeng Yayun, which used to be a folk Sichuan Opera troupe, has now been made a cultural center. Not only do you get to enjoy the exciting face-changing performances here, but you also appreciate other unique skills of Sichuan Opera. The performances here are highly captivating and are loved by locals and tourists.
Jinjiang Theater is also where you witness face-changing. It is famous for classic Sichuan opera performances, and here you can enjoy the true essence of this art. The “Sichuan Opera Show – Legendary Face-changing” performed here is a masterwork. The gigantic-scale cultural piece integrates the essence of Sichuan opera with acrobatics, dance and puppetry. It retains Sichuan opera’s ancient singing, reciting, acting and fighting and exceptional skills such as face-changing, fire-spewing and rolling lanterns and enhances stage performance using up-to-date lighting technology. It has been performed nearly 4,000 times since it opened in 2011 and has attracted about 1.2 million viewers. Having re-opened in 2024, the face-changing show has been upgraded with improved stage design, music, plot and costumes to offer you an enriched experience.
Audience Interaction
To make the experience more memorable, most performance venues in Chengdu have incorporated audience participation. Before and after the performance, the actors will walk into the crowd, and you can take your photo with them or even listen to them share with you for a moment about the mysteries behind face changing. There are also some experience areas at certain locations where you can practice basic facial changes and movements under the guidance of the actors while wearing Sichuan opera costumes. During the show, the actors may walk into the audience and get close to you while changing their faces. There is usually a Q&A session after the show when you can ask anything about this amazing art. Provide you with a deep sense of change of face.
Conclusion
Watching a Sichuan Opera face-changing performance in Chengdu is not just a show, but a cultural adventure. From its origin to its techniques, from the performance venue to the interactive experience, every aspect of it opens a unique window for you to understand traditional Chinese art. Whether you are a cultural lover or just looking for an unforgettable experience, the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance in Chengdu is definitely not to be missed!
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