Eggshell Facial Masks Inject New Vitality into Chinese Traditional Opera
An ordinary plain eggshell, after a series of steps such as tracing, painting, and coloring, can make a big difference. Traditional opera figures like the red-faced Guan Yu (Avalokiteśvara), the black-faced Bao Zheng, and the green-faced Cheng Yaojin… each one appears to come to life, given new vitality by the eggshell. Ms Zhao Limei is the master behind the creation of these eggshell facial masks. Born in Fei County, Shandong’s Linyi City, she is now a representative inheritor of the city’s intangible cultural heritage. The eggshell opera facial masks of Fei County, with a history over 200 years, embody the cultural characteristics…