Mask Wood

Evan Osnos: Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.
The afternoon of Friday, March 11th, was cool and partly cloudy on the northeast coast of Japan’s main island, a serene stretch once known as the nation’s “back roads.” At 2:46 P.M., as schools were beginning to let out, the ground began to shake . . .

Interesting Facial Mask

I’m always interested in facial mask when I was quite young,but in my hometown,they can be seen few,so being a toy for facial mask becomes a dream in our district.And I think it may be a reason for differences in different districts.Just as in Shaanxi Province,expecially in Shaanxi Guanzhong and South Shaan,local people like to use ladle facial masks when offering sacrifices to their ancestors.They play various roles in shows with ladle facial masks.The subjects include most of Chinese folk legends and tales.People hang the mask in their home and express their good wishes for life and future.Also,our ancestors believed that masks can drive off the evil and protect people.But no matter the roles are good or bad,people will paint them being cute.In their opinions,the good will always win the evil finally,and they believe the evil will become good in the end.In fact,that is a special and transparent character for Chinese people,as we are friendly and kind for almost everything.

 

Shehuo ladle facial mask has a long history of 1500 years.And do you know ladle is the utensil ever since Xiashang Dynasty?It mainly exists in Shaanxi Guanzhong and South Shaan districts,originated in Three Qin.Song,Yuan,Ming,Qing Dynasty are its prosperous time.

 

Its material is upscale paulownia wood,spring wood and peach wood.Artists will carve the wood first then color pictures on them.They have bright colors,the red and the green are their special west features.In addition,they have steady styles,profound artistic conception,fantastic imagination,free,pure and fresh characteristics.

 

An interesting thing embodied in these faical masks is their colors.And here we can know different colors stand for different meanings.

red----loyal

white---- crafty

black----rightful

yellow---- violent

blue----impetuous

green---- chivalrous

gold,silver----magical and wicked

About the Author

Hello,a Chinese girl who loves Chinese culture,fine art and crafts those interesting knowledge...

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