On April 14th, in order to let students experience the charm of Peking Opera, promote Chinese opera culture, and broaden their horizons, the “Facial Mask Workshop” was successfully held by the Art Education Center and hosted by QMES at the Qixiang Lake. Four teachers, including Liu Keming, a national-level actor from the Shaanxi Peking Opera Theater, were invited to give lectures to students. Dai Fuping, Secretary of the QMES Party Committee; Cheng Yin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of QMES; and Ma Xiaoxuan from the Student Affairs Office, participated in this event

At the beginning of the event, Liu Keming vividly explained the basic knowledge of Peking Opera facial masks to students. This included the origin of Peking Opera facial masks, the symbolic meanings represented by different colors, the method of drawing Peking Opera facial masks, and the knowledge of costumes for the five major roles of “Sheng” (male role), “Dan” (female role), “Jing” (painted face role), “Mo” (comic role), and “Chou” (clown role). Liu Keming’s vivid narration enhanced students’ understanding and knowledge of Peking Opera facial masks.

Next, the teachers from the Shaanxi Peking Opera Theater distributed facial masks to  students and guided them to draw the masks. Every student showcased their talents and started creating their own designs: there were “Red Face” Guan Yu, representing loyalty and righteousness, “White Face” Cao Cao, representing cunning and suspicion, and “Black Face” Bao Gong, representing strength and integrity... Some students fully utilized their imagination by combining traditional facial mask elements with modern popular elements, creating their own unique masks. At that moment, a variety of rich works emerged continuously, and students showcased them to each other, creating a joyful atmosphere at Qixiang Lake.

In addition, the teachers from the Peking Opera Theater personally painted large and small facial masks for the students, allowing them to experience the entire process of drawing Peking Opera facial masks up close. After the masks were painted, everyone put on the prepared costumes from the Peking Opera Theater. Under the guidance of the teachers, they experienced various Peking Opera movements such as walking in a stylized manner, flowing silk sleeves, performing hand gestures with flowers, wielding a broadsword, and wielding a long sword. They could feel the physical language of Peking Opera and appreciate the unique aesthetics behind each movement.

In recent years, QMES has been resolutely implementing the Party’s educational policies and the school’s policy directives, adhering to the educational philosophy of “nurturing and educating people through aesthetics,” and continuously promoting the integration of traditional culture into campus life and classrooms. The successful organization of this event not only allowed students to have a deeper understanding of Peking Opera culture but also sparked their strong interests in traditional opera culture. It promotes the exchange of art and culture between China and foreign countries and promotes the inheritance of Chinese cultural classics.

Text: Ma Xiaoxuan

Photos: Shaanxi Peking Opera Theater, Ma Xiaoxuan

Editor: Tang Yinwen

Translator: Zhou Yaru

Review: Cheng Yin