How did Sichuan Opera change its face?

Changing face is a unique performance skill of Sichuan local opera. It came into being in 1930s, and was first used in the traditional passbook drama "Guizhenglou". In the play, a knight named Bei Rong changed his face several times to save his life, and this novel performance mode continued from then on. The face-changing of Sichuan Opera is called "national treasure, stunt and spectacle". A face-changing artist can conjure up more than a dozen faces with a twist of his head and a wave of his hand, including black face, white face, red face, human face and grimace. According to reports, face-changing artists

Can reach the fastest speed, a face can be deformed in 270 seconds, or powerful and straight, or ferocious and horrible, or funny and funny. No matter how intently the viewer looks, he can't see any flaws. After reading it, he was very surprised. After watching it in the early 1940s, Tian Han said, "Sichuan Opera has its own specialty in changing its face, and I don't know why."

In the performance of Sichuan Opera, changing face is a romantic way to reveal the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters in the play. Because Facebook has its obvious typical characteristics, it shows the loyalty, treachery and integrity of the characters. Actors change their faces when the audience is not paying attention, emphasizing the changes and development of characters' personality and feelings. It turns abstract things that can't be seen or touched into concrete things that can be seen and touched. "This is an amazing technology." ? Liu said: "There are three ways to change your face, namely, wiping your face, blowing your face and pulling your face." In addition, there is another kind of luck.

"Wipe your face" is to apply makeup paint to a specific part of your face, and then wipe it on your face with your hands to become another face. If you want to change everything, draw it on your forehead or eyebrows. If you just want to change the lower part of your face, draw them on your face or nose. If you only need to change one part, you can only paint the part to be changed. For example, the old ghosts in The Legend of the White Snake, those released from Pei Li, and those in Fei Yunjian all use "wiping their faces".

Face blowing is only suitable for powdered cosmetics, such as gold powder, toner and silver powder. Some put a small box on the floor of the stage, which contains powder. When the actor danced on the floor, he took the opportunity to blow his face close to the box, and the powder was sprinkled on his face, which immediately turned into a face of another color. Be sure to pay attention: close your eyes, shut your mouth and hold your breath when blowing. Zi Zi in monster hunt, Le Yangzi in Treating Zhongshan, etc. used "blowing faces" when changing faces. In "Take My Son alive", the powder is put in a glass.

"Face-pulling" is a complicated face-changing method. It is to draw a face on a piece of silk in advance, cut it open, tie a silk thread to each face, and then stick it on the face one by one. Silk threads are tied in convenient and inconspicuous places (such as belts) of clothes, and they are torn off one by one with the need of performance and under the cover of dance movements. First, don't have too much glue on your face, lest you tear it off at that time or tear off all the faces at once. Second, the action should be clean and neat, and the fake action should be clever, which can deceive the eyes of the audience. For example, the bowl in The Legend of the White Snake (Zijin Bowl) can turn seven or eight different faces, such as green, red, white and black. Another example is the thief in The Old Main Building, and Nie Long in Watching Niang Beach.

Luck changed his face. It is said that Peng Sihong, a famous actor of Sichuan Opera, plays Zhuge Liang in Empty City. Qin Tong was able to use qigong to make Sima Yi's face turn from red to white, and then from white to green when he reported that his soldiers had withdrawn, to show Zhuge Liang's fear after clearance.

There is also a kind of eye-wiping, which is black smoke from the eyebrows. For example, Yang Guang wiped the leopard's eyes when he called in sick and forced the palace to show cruelty.

Sichuan Opera "The Changing Face King" and "The Changing Face Master"

In Sichuan opera, there are many people who will change their faces, and few people say they are unique. Audiences who have seen the performance know that actors not only have to change their faces, but also expose themselves on the spot and make a fool of themselves; You also need profound martial arts to make your figure vigorous and beautiful. When it comes to changing the face of Sichuan Opera, people will naturally think of Wang Daozheng, a famous actor in Sichuan Opera who is nearly sixty years old. He has the prerequisites for changing his face: focusing on martial arts since childhood, having costumes, having a voice and working hard. He once played the male Qing Er in The Legend of the White Snake, played Lu Bu in Lu Bu and The Story Of Diu Sim, and played Yang Zirong in the revolutionary modern drama "Taking Tiger Mountain Outward", singing as a double beauty. He is also good at performing a large number of traditional martial arts dramas, such as Jiangdong Bridge, Guagua Qin Zhao, Fengyi Pavilion, and Sweeping Flowers Hall. This makes his performance have a "handsome" spirit, and his gestures and catwalk posture exude a hideous beauty and modeling beauty. He has visited the Federal Republic of Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Singapore and other eastern and western countries as well as Hongkong and Taiwan Province with the theater. 1996, 10 In June, Wang Daozheng went to Hong Kong to attend a literary evening for people from all walks of life in Hong Kong to celebrate the National Day and welcome the reunification, and performed Sichuan Opera, which was called "the king of changing faces" by Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao.

Let's talk about the "face-changing king" Let's talk about Peng Denghuai, who is called "Master of Changing Face". In the CCTV version of the legendary swordsman, Yu Canghai should be said to be one of the most prominent figures. The application of face-changing skills in Sichuan Opera not only adds icing on the cake to the jade sea in Jin Yong's original works, but also feasts many audiences' eyes. Peng Denghuai is a lecturer in Sichuan Opera School. He likes Sichuan Opera since he was a child, especially his face changing. His face-changing technique is perfect, fast, magical and flawless. 1993, nine faces are the first to advance, leading all the way. 1996, his stunt caused a sensation in southeast Asia, and the Malaysian rich paid a lot of money to buy his "copyright", which he flatly refused. 1In February, 1999, Peng Denghuai went to Singapore to perform at the invitation of Singapore and Taiwan TV stations. On the 22nd, Peng Denghuai changed 14 faces in 25 seconds at the Kela Wharf Theatre in Lion City, changed back to the original face and then returned to 4 faces, breaking the record of 1998 of 25 seconds 12 faces and being recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Peng Denghuai's wonderful performances at home and abroad have conquered countless audiences. And among them, there is a person with a special heart. He is Andy Lau, who is known as the King of Heaven and the Superstar in Hongkong. Andy Lau saw Mr. Peng Denghuai's magical face-changing art on different occasions, and when he was amazed, he sprouted the idea of combining traditional Sichuan opera with modern pop music, creating new words and singing new songs with old tunes. Andy Lau once became the focus of attention after learning from Peng Denghuai, the "face-changing king" of Sichuan Opera. Peng Denghuai was very happy with his apprentice Andy Lau and praised him, saying, "Hua Zai is an outstanding young man with a high artistic level, so he was accepted as his first and last apprentice. After five years of contact, Hanako has learned to change four or five faces, but he will not perform on stage when the technology is not mature enough. " Peng Denghuai said with a smile that if anything goes wrong, he will be afraid of losing face.

Meet Kang Yong, the "face-changing baby"

Kang Yong is neither Wang Daozheng, the "face-changing king", nor Peng Denghuai, who is called the "face-changing master", but Kang Yong, a mountain girl, who was born in a remote town in Langzhong, Sichuan in 1970. Now he is a national first-class stuntman and a young performing artist of Sichuan Opera. He is good at changing his face and spitting fire. Kang Yong not only created the Guinness World Record of changing faces in 20 seconds 15, but also broadened the field of changing faces, which can not only change various traditional faces, but also change faces according to people in real life. At present, while further improving the face-changing technology, we are also studying changing clothes. Young Kang Yong has performed in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan Province Province and other countries and regions, and won the titles of "Bashu geek", "Sichuan cuisine favorite" and "Young face-changing king".

The difficult experience of learning from the teacher

Kang Yong's parents are small business farmers. When he was young, he often went to the countryside to perform with the troupe. Five-year-old Kang Yong's favorite thing is to ride around his father's neck and go to the surrounding villages to see the play. Kang Yong's young mind is full of great curiosity about Sichuan Opera. In that play, people who change their faces, swish, turn their heads away and become red faces, swish, golden faces, swish, and then black faces; There is also a cup to drink. As soon as the smoke rose, my face changed color. It's amazing. Out of his love for Sichuan Opera, Kang Yong entered the rural amateur Sichuan Opera Troupe at the age of 9 and became a small actor. 15 years old, after graduating from junior high school, he recommended himself to join Langzhongchuan Troupe and became a formal actor. But there he didn't have a chance to learn the skill of changing his face.

When Kang Yong 12 years old, he learned that there was a teacher in Langzhongchuan Troupe who could simply change three faces. According to the current technical habits, this is the most elementary face change. I went to learn from him, but he didn't agree. This teacher respects this rule very, very much. On the one hand, because Kang Yong's time in Sichuan Opera Troupe is very short, he doesn't have a good foundation. On the other hand, the teacher is afraid that after Kang Yong learns, he can't play better and inherit this stunt method and this technology better.

Kang Yong's family was poor in economic conditions and had no money, so he thought of a way. In addition to respecting the teacher in life, he has to pay something, show something, and impress the teacher emotionally. I know this teacher likes to drink morning tea. At that time, all the tea was brewed by oneself, not this kind of scented tea now. Picked tea leaves are called brain tea drinking. In winter, Kang Yong will go to a distant place early in the morning to find a cup of tea, or go to the villagers' home to ask for a cup of tea, give it to the teacher, and then practice by himself. At that time, it was very expensive to eat fish in our local area, so Kang Yong found a bamboo pole, made a hook with a sewing needle, and asked his fellow villagers for some nylon thread for fishing. Kang Yong never fished. He fished early in winter, using earthworms and flour, and didn't catch a fish for three days in a row. Due to poor family conditions and lack of money to buy clothes, Kang Yong wears very little in winter. One day, an old man told him that children can't do this, not only can't catch fish, but you will freeze yourself if you wear so little. I'll teach you a trick, and you are sure to catch fish today. Under the guidance of the old man, Kang Yong caught two fish in less than an hour. Because it is a small river ditch, a fish may have at most two or three.

Kang Yong was very excited after catching the fish. He rushed to the local villagers, preferably for free, and helped him make this fish soup. When Kang Yong gave the fish soup to the teacher, he told the teacher that he bought it himself. The teacher was surprised at that time, because although the fish soup looks ordinary now, it doesn't matter. The teacher knew that Kang Yong had no money at home, and he was very moved to hear that he bought this fish soup for himself with his hard-earned money.

Because the old artist got up early, one day the teacher went for a walk and walked to the river and met this old master who was fishing. The master told him that you have a child there who fishes here every day. The teacher asked, what does the child look like? What the old man said, our teacher thought it might be Kang Yong. It turns out that the fish soup Kang Yong made for me was made by the fish he caught every morning. At this time, the teacher was even more moved.

One day, the teacher called Kang Yong to his room. He said, well, seeing that you are so sincere and respect teachers, it is impossible to teach this one by one. I'll show you my special props, that is, my evolutionary props, from beginning to end. After reading it, you can figure it out for yourself. Kang Yong was very excited at that time, thinking that if so, it would be great.

Because the teacher didn't teach it by hand, he just showed it to Kang Yong and asked him to go back and think about it. At that time, an old artist and an old-timer, he may not tell you a lot directly, especially his unique skills. After seeing the teacher's props, Kang Yong went back to think, but he didn't have a clue. He sketched himself with paper and changed his face; I tore sheets at home to make clothes, and I was beaten and scolded a lot for it. As a result, I didn't make it for three months, and evolution didn't succeed once. Kang Yong secretly went to see the teacher while he was making up or performing, and learned from him.

A difficult attempt at innovation

Interest is the best teacher. Although the knowledge of changing face learned from Master is limited, Kang Yong, a stubborn mountain girl, finally mastered the secret of changing face through repeated experiments and failures. Different from the older generation of face-changing artists, Kang Yong hopes to add modern elements to the traditional face-changing to suit the appreciation interest of modern people. Changing body double and clothes is his unique skill.

Speaking of unique skills, Kang Yong still has a certain talent. He likes all the theatres, including Peking Opera and other sister dramas, and has skills. There are also many Sichuan operas that not only change their faces, but also spit fire. That's also a unique skill, and there are some tips. For example, use a candle, blow it out immediately, re-ignite, re-extinguish and re-ignite it. Kang Yong is willing to try.

Maybe I've been transformed for almost 20 years. When the traditional face-changing has sensationalized the whole country and even the whole world and shocked the whole country, after Kang Yong took Li Boqing as his teacher, the teacher asked him if he could change the face of this celebrity and star, hoping that Kang Yong could make new creations and new improvements on the original basis. Talking about the unique face-changing skills pioneered by modern stars and celebrities, Kang Yong is particularly excited: "Many viewers have already experienced' aesthetic fatigue' in the face-changing of Sichuan Opera, and they are quite critical of the fact that Sichuan Opera has not made progress in face-changing. I have been anxious! "

Therefore, Kang Yong rented a house in Chengdu, built a car behind closed doors, devoted himself to studying the face-changing technology of Sichuan Opera, and made an in-depth analysis of the face-changing technology of Sichuan Opera. He wants to combine the face-changing art of Sichuan Opera with the popular stars that modern audiences like, such as integrating the artistic images of Gong Li, Andy Lau, Yam Tat-wah and Cecilia Cheung into the face-changing of Sichuan Opera, highlighting the times and visibility. Kang Yong became a groupie, hiding at home and watching TV and videos, knowing the looks, clothes and even facial expressions of stars like the back of his hand; Kang Yong has been shopping all day, more like a girl who loves beauty. A piece of cloth and a piece of clothing will be picked up and looked for a long time. Kang Yong bought Star Pictorial and new materials for making facial makeup, and continued to draw and make. Many girls can't do needlework now, but Kang Yong, a handsome boy, can skillfully do celebrity facial makeup. .

The traditional face is sketched with the faces of classical figures, which is relatively simple and rough. However, the necromancer, like the faces in our lives, is more exquisite, and it is very difficult to pursue perfection, especially in workmanship and skills. If it is through a short time, one day for two days, one month for two months, it is more difficult. After a long period of thinking and thinking, and finally after many, many failures, the necromancer changed by Kang Yong is only a rough version, and it has not yet reached the level of refinement.

Kang Yong's substitution and change of clothes (they call it changing clothes) have never happened. Now there may not be a colleague who has changed his face, only him. Kang Yong's current creation is in progress and still in the research and development stage. Although the first draft has come out, it should be said that it can be shown to the audience, but it is far from being accurate, skillful and precise. Kang Yong wants to dedicate the best, best and most wonderful expression to the audience. I believe that through his efforts, he will meet the audience soon.

Romantic transnational love

Kang Yong's face-changing stunt is not only famous in China, but also often goes abroad to participate in performances. In July, 2002, he was invited to participate in the "China Zigong Biography Acrobatic Art Troupe" to perform in Busan. Kang Yong's magical art of changing face fascinated a beautiful North Korean girl present. Since then, the two began a romantic transnational relationship.

In 2002, Kang Yong went to South Korea to attend the commemoration of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea 10. In the eyes of Koreans, North Korea's national art is what they admire. His current girlfriend Sun Meihai is the public relations manager of a large exhibition company in South Korea, who is responsible for their performances and accommodation every day. At that time, Kang Yong had an extra gift in her room every day, and that was freshly squeezed juice. At that time, he didn't dare to drink, because of foreign affairs discipline and management regulations, he couldn't take other people's gifts or eat what others gave you.

About a week later, one night when I was preparing to perform, it was June in Korea, and the weather was very hot. When Kang Yong came out, he saw his girlfriend drinking and joked with her, "There are so many people here, why not buy a drink for each of us?" When she said this, her face turned red at once. Kang Yong continued to joke that your face has changed, and the pretty girl's face has turned red. In our China, Guan Yu is the blusher, so Sun Meihai is even more embarrassed. She left. After walking for less than half a minute and 30 seconds, she came back. She said, Kang, point to her cup, and then point to the inside. At this moment, Kang Yong suddenly realized that this cup of fresh juice every day was from her.

During their stay in Korea, Kang Yong and Korean girl Sun Meihai further deepened their understanding and became closer and closer. The power of love also makes them study each other's language hard.

When Kang Yong left North Korea, Sun Meihai saw him off at the airport. He gave him a letter and asked him to take it back to China and his hometown, and then open it.

Because of the language barrier, Sun Meihai always puts the dictionary aside, writes a word and translates it into a word, and then copies it with high-end stationery after making the first draft. The letter was as crooked as that written by primary school students, and I also sprayed perfume and kissed my lipstick. 100 words, mostly expressing affection, very touching.

Kang Yong was very intoxicated after reading it. Everything else in his mind seems to be gone. It's all Sun Meihai's shadow. Everything from knowing her to doing later, just like watching a movie, can't be erased. At this moment, the girl's phone call came, and Kang Yong replied to her, saying in Korean, I love you too. There she was. She cried and was very excited.

Just in 65438+February last year, Sun Meihai finally came to China from Wan Li, catching up with Kang Yong's home in Zigong. I met Kang Yong's parents. In order to have more opportunities to come to China and get to know Kang Yongduo, Sun Meihai has now resigned and gone to work in another company. Now they have agreed that the girl will come to China in September this year, which is not too far from their wedding date.

Where should the face-changing stunt go?

Since its birth, the face-changing stunt has been loved by the world for its colorful facial makeup and mysterious skills. However, for decades, the stunt of changing face has not been mastered by outsiders. In the final analysis, it still depends on the secret that several generations of Sichuan opera people keep their mouths shut. For many years, they have adhered to the old adage of "passing on from the inside out, passing on men but not women". Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture also defined it as "the secret of bipolar performance". However, in recent years, it has been reported that the face-changing stunt has been cracked, and female disciples have been taught the face-changing stunt, which has been used in various business occasions and other news. The protection of face-changing stunt has become the focus of debate in Sichuan opera circle. Not long ago, someone applied for a patent for face change, but it didn't work. Kang Yong said that changing face was not invented by him, by teacher Peng Denghuai or by other teachers. It was handed down from generation to generation. Since ancient times, he has experienced so many artists, so many predecessors, and his teachers have taught him. He will keep this secret. Now, it seems that the sense of crisis has come. If this secret is not broken in the near future, he must be under great pressure. If he is in the streets of Sichuan, he is not in our circle.

Some people say that the mystery of Sichuan Opera's changing face has fascinated countless audiences, so this enough paper can't be broken. It is also said that this blind secrecy and complacency will affect the development of Sichuan opera. We don't know which is more right, but we know that many viewers still don't understand this change of face after watching it once, and still want to watch it again. We also know that as a younger generation of face-changing artists, they are developing vigorously towards the market.