The Research on Cognition Design in Chinese Opera Mask

Abstract

Making up a facial symbolism is a very specific skill and makeup art in the Chinese opera. The performers use colorful paintings to paint variety of symbolism and line arts on their faces. These emphasize the characteristics, positions, ages, and the provenances of the characters. The method of this research applies the content analysis method to comprise a literature review of the painted-face of Jing role in the Chinese opera. The literature review has been handled and coded using the qualitative data analysis software NVivo 10. The results of this research found some indication by painted-face attribute values comparison, sources diversity reference, and nodes clustered by attribute value for indicating similarity or unusual from the original texts. In conclude the object of analysis in this research, the facial patterns which appear on the face of a Jing character, can be defined as “descriptive”, “hereditary”, “imitative”, and “name-based” in generally. To the uninitiated audience, the face patterns and colors, which appear upon the stage, may rapidly become an indistinguishable blur. Fortunately in performer’s position, one has to unravel the secrets of Chinese face painting is to learn to recognize the symbols and signs stamped upon each Chinese opera character’s face.