中國傳統戲曲發展源遠流長，而且具藝術特色。戲曲始於原始社會的歌舞，經過長時期的演進，形成了今天的中國國粹—中國戲曲藝術。看過中國戲曲演出的觀眾，也會對演員華麗的服飾及塗紅畫綠的面譜留下深刻的印象，這亦是中國傳統戲曲別樹一幟的標記。
The development of traditional Chinese theatrical opera has a long history, and it is an art form that is rich in originality. Chinese theatrical opera can trace its root to the ritual dance of primitive society, which evolved through a gradual process over an extended period of time and transformed into the soul of national artistic culture we know today as Traditional Chinese Theatrical Opera. Anyone who has been to a Traditional Chinese Theatrical Opera cannot help but come away deeply impressed by the magnificently colourful costumes and brightly contrasting colour masks worn by the stage actors, which is also the distinguished hallmark of traditional Chinese Theatrical Opera.
面譜與唐代「大面」劇頗有淵源。話說北齊蘭陵王性情勇猛善戰，但因相貌太俊美，不足以威嚇敵人，所以便戴上面木刻的假面，勇冠三軍。唐代《蘭陵王入陣曲》戲曲，仿效北齊蘭陵王指揮出擊的故事，演員戴上面具演出。面譜便開始在戲曲中出現。
The acting mask is quite closely associated with the “Masquerading” dramatic play of the Tang Dynasty. As the story goes, King Lan Ling of the Northern Qi Kingdom was such a brave and courageous fighter, but his appearance was too handsome that he cannot frighten the enemy. So he would wear a carved wooden mask to lead his army into battle, and triumphed over the enemy like it was never before. The theatrical drama “King Lan Ling going to battle” of the Tang Dynasty is a depiction of King Lan Ling of the Kingdom of Northern Qi commanding his troupe to launch an attack on the enemy. The stage actors would all wear masks in the performance. Since then, acting masks started to appear in theatrical dramas.
時至今日，面譜的作用可表現劇中人物的面容和性格特徵、豐富舞台的色彩，亦強化演出的效果。故此面譜顏色的運用和勾繪的式樣，皆有特別的含意，也可分辨角色忠奸，令觀眾易於掌握故事內容。其中的例子：
紅色象徵忠勇，代表人物有關羽；
粉紅色象徵年老氣衰，代表人物有袁紹；
金銀色象徵神怪人物或番邦將帥，代表人物有二郎神；
白色象徵奸詐，代表人物有曹操；
黑色象徵剛直、鐵面無私，代表人物有包拯。
圖：轉載自《中國戲曲臉譜藝術 = The art of face painting in Chinese music-drama》/ 張庚主編；中國藝術研究院戲曲研究所編。南昌：江西美術，1993 / 第114、139-140頁。
Nowadays, acting masks may be used to convey the facial features and individual personalities of the characters in the play and to enrich the atmosphere of the performance stage, while also enhancing the dramatic effects of the show. For such reasons, the use of colours and the style of painting on the masks all have specific connotations These may be clues to distinguish the good guys from the bad, making it easier for the audience to comprehend the storylines. Some examples are:
Red represents righteousness and valour, the typical character is Guan Yu;
Pink signifies elderly age and senility; typical characters included Yuan Shao;
Golden colour symbolizes deities and spirits, or martial characters of foreign
origins, and one archetypal expression of such character is the God of Er Lang;
White is taken to mean crafty crooks and deceitfulness, for this the character
Cao Cao is regarded as fitting epitome;
Black alludes to forthrightness, candidness and moral decency, which is typified
by Bao Gong.
一張臉一個故事
小朋友齊來畫出自己的面譜，創作自己喜歡的故事人物！
Each face tells a story
Let’s paint a face mask for yourself and create your favourite story characters!
資料來源Sources：
Websites:
http://hk.geocities.com/chanwai747/3333.htm