Chinese Peking Opera Costume Chest

Author: Liu Yuemei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-12-01
Features: The set of artistic conventions in Peking Opera possesses unique aesthetic value. These conventions are not only reflected in singing, speaking, acting, and fighting but also in costumes and makeup. Costumes and makeup with conventions are essential means for shaping characters on the Peking Opera stage and are one of the key elements for actors to complete their performance creation. However, in the past, Peking Opera costumes and makeup were solely passed down through word of mouth, without even a relatively systematic record. After 20 years of refinement, China's first comprehensive work on traditional Peking Opera costumes, The Chinese Peking Opera Costume Chest, fills this gap. The book is richly illustrated, systematically and completely describing the development and evolution of Peking Opera costumes. The dramatist Cao Yu once wrote a preface for the book: "The Chinese Peking Opera Costume Chest is a magnificent album depicting the distinctive costumes of Peking Opera and their accompanying accessories, dazzling and highly appreciable." The Peking Opera costume chest is like a treasure trove. The Chinese Peking Opera Costume Chest is divided into nine chapters: Colorful Chests, Hairdressing Table, Helmet Chest, Main Costume Chest, Secondary Costume Chest, Tertiary Costume Chest, Banner Holder Chest, Character Makeup, and Play Titles. Each chapter features illustrations accompanied by text, showcasing various costumes box by box. It includes not only different types of chests but also wearing rules, face-painting designs, makeup guides, and props. It offers not only general descriptions but also detailed information on dimensions, materials, styles, colors, patterns, and craftsmanship tips, fully reflecting the artistic styles of masters like Mei Lanfang, Xun Huisheng, and Zhou Xinfang, presenting their brilliantly designed stage costumes as if leading readers into a grand garden of costume art. The harmonious integration of illustrations and text, as well as the combination of play content and costume design, embodies the infinite charm of Peking Opera from both static and dynamic perspectives. The book is comprehensive, systematic, accurate, and detailed, covering not only various types of chests but also wearing rules, face-painting designs, makeup guides, and props. It provides general descriptions as well as detailed information on dimensions, materials, styles, colors, patterns, and craftsmanship tips, making it highly valuable in terms of artistic merit, reference material, academic significance, and practical application.