Knowing what's going on helps a lot. By the time you get to see the opera itself, these questions have already been answered in an English-language slide show. You have also toured the classrooms, where young kids are learning to do triple backflips and fight mock battles. One of the most interesting stops along the Fu Hsing Academy tour, which takes place at 11 a.m. every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, is the makeup room. Each color has meaning, and characters are readily identified by savvy opera goers.
Face paint gives important clues about the personality of charachers in Peking opera.
A green face tells the audience that the character is impulsive and violent, silver and gold denote gods, and so forth. In addition, symbols such as the ying and yang or the character denoting Buddha may give the audience further clues about a man's personality. Their clothing and headdress tell us if they are rich or poor, and we must rely on their gestures and speech to reveal more about their personality. The colors and lines used are relatively natural. Choose a face that suits your mood.