

One theory is that facial makeup began in ancient times as part of people’s devotion to primitive totem beliefs, from which people formed traditions of tattoos and facial makeup. When it comes to the origins of dramatic facial makeup, there are many theories.

In other words, facial makeup is the portrait of each actor’s character.Īctually, many local operas around China have their own facial painting traditions. In addition to the color of the makeup, the characteristics, personality, moral character, and the like are displayed through the symbolic and exaggerated artistic designs on their faces. Audiences that are old hands of Peking opera can differentiate at first glance the heroes from the thugs, the intelligent from the foolish, liked from the despised, and so on just from the facial makeup painted on the actors’ faces. Over time, these designs have become a set stereotype. In traditional Peking Opera, each of the historical characters portrayed in the performance has its own unique design painted on the face of the actor. A Peking Opera actor is painting his face before going on stage.
