Shanbanqiao Cultural Life Hall Introduction
Upon entering the Shanbanqiao Facial Makeup Cultural Life Museum area, you can see a facial makeup of "God of Wealth" ranked among the entrance. With its vibrant colors and auspicious meaning, it stands out strikingly against the tranquil forest backdrop, enticing visitors to explore the museum further. Sanyi's wood carving industry is quite developed, with numerous wood carving workshops. Shanbanqiao itself originated from a wood carving studio, where the owners, a couple, initially focused on creating practical art pieces such as flat wood carvings, screens, tables, chairs, and tea trays. However, as the overall socio-economic structure changed, the wood carving industry gradually declined, prompting the couple to reconsider the direction of their studio. They initially transformed the studio into a farm focused on wood carving education, leveraging their strong interest in Peking Opera facial makeup as teaching material to impart basic carving skills to beginners. However, using sharp carving knives posed risks for untrained novices, leading them to design a facial makeup painting activity instead. Thus, Shanbanqiao gradually evolved into a place centered around facial makeup art, transforming into a suitable venue for the public and family-friendly impromptu painting. Within the cultural center, there are several areas, including a historical and cultural section introducing Sanyi’s local history, a wood carving facial makeup display area, and a hands-on experience area for the public to learn about wood. Among these, the most eye-catching feature is the wall showcasing thousands of traditional national opera facial makeups. These works are the culmination of the family’s hard work, and upon close inspection, one can see that each facial makeup has a unique design, painted with great precision, showcasing different characters' personalities and essence through colors and lines. With a clear theme, Shanbanqiao successfully promotes both facial makeup and wood carving arts, allowing these cultures to be understood in an engaging way, ultimately achieving sustainable inheritance. There are two main theories regarding the origin of facial makeup. One suggests that in ancient rituals, fierce masks were used to portray the fearsome nature of demons. The other theory posits that during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui-Tang period, masked song and dance performances were the precursors to facial makeup. Regardless of its origin, wearing masks made it difficult to express emotions and eyes; thus, performers began to paint their faces directly with powder and oil paints, forming facial makeup. Initially, facial makeup utilized only black, red, and white colors to emphasize facial features, skin tone, and contours, making it easier for viewers farther away from the stage to see the performers' facial expressions. With the development of opera arts, the patterns and colors of facial makeup became increasingly elaborate. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a complete set of makeup notations was established for Peking Opera facial makeup, with colors gradually taking on symbolic meanings. In colors, red represents loyalty, as in Guan Yu; black represents integrity, as in Bao Zheng; purple signifies wisdom and courage, as in Jing Ke; white may imply deceitful dispositions, as in Cao Cao; blue suggests strength and valor, as in Lü Meng; green symbolizes fierceness and recklessness, as in Cheng Yaojin; yellow denotes insidiousness and cruelty, as in Pang Juan; and gold and silver are often used for gods, Buddhas, and spirits, symbolizing the illusory. Understanding the meanings represented by these colors can enhance the enjoyment of appreciating the makeup.