An Introduction of the "Figures in Traditional Chinese Operas under the Peace and Prosperity Bureau"

The Peace and Prosperity Bureau was an agency responsible for the theatrical performance in the royal court of the Qing Dynasty. It was first established in the 7th year of Daoguang's reign (1827) and later ended with the fall of the Qing Dynasty, lasting over eighty years from start to finish. The Peace and Prosperity Bureau was primarily in charge of the performance activities on the occasion of the first and fifteenth day of lunar month celebrations and other grand ceremonies in the imperial court. The types of operas mainly included Kunqu Opera and Beijing Opera in the early period and later were replaced by Pihuang Opera and Bangzi Opera.

Figures in Traditional Chinese Operas under the Peace and Prosperity Bureau' is a collection of colored paintings on silk of Beijing Opera figures in costumes and makeup. No specific time about this album of paintings could be discovered, but these paintings should have been done by the court painters during the reigns of Emperor Xianfeng and Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty. As is noted in the historical materials about the Peace and Prosperity Bureau. these opera figures in costumes and makeup are very valuable. They are done in fine brushwork with colors, 27cm high and 22cm wide. Each opera contains a suite of paintings consisting of two to over a dozen paintings. Each painting includes one more-than-half-length figure. AlI the facial makeup and apparel of the figure are finely portrayed. The apparels match well with the stage costumes and headpieces collected in Beijing Palace Museum. This album is finely made. The paintings are of super quality and colors are bright. Both the silk and the pigments are of superb quality which shows that they were objects that emperors and empresses took light in rather than reminders for actors and actresses and performing managers. For this reason. these figures in costumes and makeup, besides their visual value. can serve as precious historical materials for studying the theatrical facial makeup and costumes in the imperial court in the last years of the Qing Dynasty.