Peking Opera and Chinese Culture

Written by Kaiti Pappas (Business)

Throughout this trip, I’m constantly trying to compare aspects of Chinese culture to our culture. However, there is nothing I know of in the United States that can compare to the Peking Opera. From what I’ve seen, their operas involve folklore, history, and precision. The makeup is dramatic, yet detailed and, like most aspects of Chinese culture, has a distinct meaning.  Our teacher told us that the audience can typically distinguish the characters’ roles through the colors and patterns of the actor’s makeup.  She then showed us pictures of various characters with appearances so foreign from our style that I can only compare it to characters in Star Wars – from Princess Lea to Darth Vader.

Whether you’re a crazy Star Wars fanatic or have only seen the characters through McDonald’s happy meal toys, you know that the man with the red and black face must be “the bad guy.” In the Peking Opera, however, red and black faces have a positive connotation implying that character is brave and wise. In contrast, blue, white and yellow colors that we often associate in Christianity with “heavenliness,” have negative meanings. This left us with an interesting dilemma when we were asked to make Peking opera masks : whether to make our masks look like “good guys” in Chinese culture or to create a more Americanized look. Without thinking, I drew a swirled pattern on my mask with a solid line from forehead to chin and then instinctively grabbed for the silver, blue, and gold paint. Many of us, however, made the masks in traditional Chinese style with red and black markings.

One thing I’ve learned from being here for a full week is to always expect the unexpected. Some things that you would think would be a taste of home, for example, a dish that looks like steak and potatoes, could easily be radishes and tofu. In Chinese culture everything is more than it seems. Every Mandarin written character  has a story that can be 1,000s of years old.  Chinese culture seems to have a depth that most aspects of our culture lack. I am guilty of taking familiarity for granted, but as much as I miss American food and the simplicity of my everyday life, I am excited to continue experiencing all that China has to offer.


Photos below were submitted by Jackie Tomasetti (Social Work)

The Finished Products

The Artists at Work

Caitlin and Jackie as Peking Opera Stars