Shanbanqiao Cultural Life Museum Introduction
Entering the Shanbanqiao Face Mask Cultural Life Museum, visitors are greeted by a vibrant face mask of the "Five Ways of Fortune", notable for its colorful design symbolizing good luck. It stands out prominently in the serene forest, enticing one to explore the museum further. The wood carving industry in Sanyi is highly developed, with numerous wood carving factories, and Shanbanqiao was originally a wood carving studio. The museum's owners, a couple, both worked in wood carving, primarily making practical artworks such as flat wooden carvings, screens, tables, chairs, and tea trays. However, with changes in the social and economic structure, the wood carving industry gradually declined, prompting the couple to reconsider the direction of their studio. Initially, they transformed the studio into a farm focused on teaching wood carving. With a strong interest in Beijing opera face masks, they began using face masks as teaching material to introduce basic carving techniques to beginners. However, due to the dangers posed by sharp carving tools for untrained beginners, they eventually designed face mask painting activities, transforming Shanbanqiao into a place centered around face mask art, suitable for the public and family-friendly spontaneous painting experiences. The cultural center is divided into several areas, including a cultural and historical section introducing local history, a wood carving face mask display area, and an experiential area for the public to learn about wood. The most eye-catching feature is a wall displaying over a thousand traditional Chinese opera face masks. These works are the culmination of the efforts of the museum owner's family; upon careful examination, one can see that each face mask has a unique design and is painted with great precision, with colors and lines vividly reflecting the personalities and spirits of various characters. With a clear theme, Shanbanqiao has successfully promoted both face mask and wood carving arts, allowing people to reconnect with these cultures in an engaging way, thus achieving sustainable cultural heritage. There are two theories about the origin of face masks. One suggests that they were used in ancient rituals to portray the terrifying aspects of demons with fearsome masks. The other traces the origins of face masks to the masked dance performances during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Regardless of their origin, the inability to express the emotions and eye expressions of performers while wearing masks led artists to begin painting their faces directly with powders and paints, resulting in what we now know as face masks. To ensure that audiences farther from the stage could still see the performers' facial expressions, the earliest face masks primarily utilized three colors: black, red, and white, to accentuate features, skin tone, and contours. As the art of opera evolved, designs and colors of face masks became increasingly diverse. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a complete makeup schema had developed for Beijing opera face masks, with colors gradually taking on symbolic meanings. In this color spectrum, red represents loyalty and courage, as seen in the character Guan Yu; black indicates loyalty and integrity, like Bao Zheng; purple signifies wisdom and valor, as represented by Jing Ke; water white suggests a character's treacherous nature, akin to Cao Cao; blue symbolizes strength and bravery, such as Lu Meng; green embodies reckless courage, as in Cheng Yaojin; yellow indicates insidiousness and cruelty, as exemplified by Pang Juan; while gold and silver are often used for deities, Buddhas, and supernatural beings, representing the surreal. Understanding the meanings behind these colors enhances the enjoyment of appreciating the art of face masks.
