Black faced actors are average people. Beards also bears a symbol and in total there are about 18 types of beards that carry different personalities. Chinese opera performers wear heavy makeup, which is a cosmetic style derived from the use of painted masks in older operatic forms. Apart from the exquisitely embroidered traditional costumes, head-dresses are a requisite in Chinese opera. The more elaborate the head-dress, the more significant the character.
Costumes are extravagant in style in order to achieve as great a theatrical effect as possible.
Like the makeup, the color codes of these costumes identify the various ranks, status, and personality of the performers. Purple for barbarians and yellow for emperors. Props are typically simple so that audiences can enhance their imagination, which is the best part of the entire spectacle. Gestures, movement and attitude are all incorporated with the performers' script for an impressive performance. Most of these performances are related to Taoism and Buddhism.