Innovation and Inherit of Kunqu Opera Art

Costumes of Kunqu Opera are splendid and colorful and they are the keys to highlight the characters on the stages. Costumes of Kunqu Opera, in professional term, are called “Xingtou” which means the clothing of all characters and it is the important measure to great the stage image of Kunqu Opera. It includes gown, short garment, armors, hats, boots and shoes and decorative objects. Characteristics of costumes of Kunqu Opera are significant. Requirements of the actors’ clothing are strict. There is a professional saying, “wearing worn-out clothing is better than wearing inappropriately”.

1.“Embroidered robe” is the formal dress of emperors and generals. “Female Embroidered robe” is worn by queens, concubines and female generals. As to the colors, the emperors wear yellow dress and the subjects wear other colors and “red” is the highest class.
2.“Official dress” is the formal dress of civil officials under the middle level. Red and purple ones are higher class.
3.“Kao” is the armor and uniform of military officials. It includes male Kao, female Kao and improved Kao.
4.“Jian Yi” can be worn by emperors and the palace guards.
5.“Zhe Zi” is worn the mostly generally, including civil officers, military officers, higher class, lower class, males, females and old and young characters.
6.“Pei” is daily clothes of emperors, civil officials and gentry. It is divided into male Pei and female Pei.
7.“Qing Yi” refers to decent, serious and honest characters.
8.“Phoenix coronet” is the noble crown of ancient women.

In short, costumes are based on the clothes of Ming Dynasty. By style, color, pattern, materials and wearing, it shows the difference of characters.