Traditional Costumes

Besides facial make-up, each character in Chinese Opera wears a distinctive costume which tells the audience about the rank, status and personality traits of the wearer.

Armour
The armour or K'ao is a stiff costume with brilliant colours and often has the design of a tiger's head or dragon across the front. It is worn by actors and actresses playing high military officials in the jing (painted face), Wu Sheng (male acrobat) and Dao Ma Dan (female warrior) roles. If the official wears four triangular pennants on his back, it shows that he has received his authority from the emperor himself.

Military characters also wear headgears with two great pheasant plumes that are sometimes nearly six or seven feet in length and sprouting from the actor's head.

Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe This actor plays a wu sheng with his armour and spear. Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe The actor dons the warrior's special gear which also included four triangular pennants on his back.

A male and a female warrior.
Picture source: Hokkien Kong
Huay XiangOpera Troupe






Headdress
The headdress is a very important accessory in the 
Chinese Opera costume as it helps the audience 
to identify specific roles.


A backstage display of headresses.

Elaborate headresses decorated with sequins and pearls 
are only worn by people of high status such as 
emperors and empresses, generals, princes and chief concubines.
More important characters will wear more 
ornate and striking headresses.

Dan characters usually wear elaborate headdresses.

Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay
XiangOpera Troupe

An emperor and empress in elaborate headdresses.
Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe

Hats

Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe There are many different kinds of hats worn in Chinese Opera. Scholars and officials often wear simple black hats with two fins coming out from the sides.

Thus, it is important for actors to wear the right hats as the fins denote an actor's character or rank.

Hats with rectangular fins are worn by high officials while round fins are worn by treacherous characters. Hats with long, thin fins are only worn by Prime Ministers. Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe

A young scholar from a well-to-do family will wear a richly embroidered hat and fins in the shape of two curled butterfly wings. Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe

Sleeves

They are sleeves which have an extra length of cloth that consist of long strips of white silk. Water sleeves are flickered to emphasize a point, shaken

Picture: A History of Chinese Opera in Singapore

when angry or stretched out when in dance. Some hua dans and high officials have water sleeves.

Sheng and Hua dan with their long water sleeves. Picture source: Hokkien Kong Huay XiangOpera Troupe