Nature and its feeling

Written by Dlamini,
edited by TLAA

    Let us celebrate the beauty of Nature - the heart of Mother Earth. Let us sing the pure and simple power of life and celebrate its plants, animals, colors, movements and wonders. Let us enjoy the essence of things and experience the wondrous Universe that sings through our hearts. Let us become aware of the images of reality we have created.

Getting involved with nature

    Let us see what happens when our consciousness changes and we reach a state without any tension, a state of deep breathing, focused on the heart, full of peace and deep stillness. Let us be present to what is actually happening and awaken to the many dimensions of the reality we are living in. Imagine becoming still, quite naturally, and, in this stillness finding wholeness. The Power of Nature can be evoked through a direct relationship with all of its aspects. By being one with the animals, the plants and the mountains, we embrace an important part of ourselves.

Natural feeling at Shanbangiao recreation farm

    Let us develop respect and appreciation for all of the aspects of Nature for the healing that they are constantly giving us. Let us move beyond the simple satisfaction of personal needs and become something greater in order to create a reality in harmony with our spiritual aspirations. Let us take responsibility for our processes, raise our consciousness and find the love and the light in each situation. What a marvelous feeling to be in harmonious relationship with all that, which is a feeling of right participation in the Universe. 

Chinese New Year and Facial masks

Written by Dlamini,
edited by TLAA

    The colorful and exciting celebrations for the Chinese New Year last for several days and end with the lantern festival. Chinese New Year Masks display the feelings and emotions of merriment associated with the festival. Chinese people all over the world usher in the New Year by cooking special food, cleaning their homes, purchasing new clothes and buying presents for friends and family. In the midst of all these activities, various artworks like Chinese New Year Masks in rich colors display the essence of the festivity.

Some of the masks worn on Chinese New Year

   Chinese New Year Masks are made of varied materials including cloth, paper, grass, leather, metal, shell, and carved of stone or wood. They are painted with Chinese symbolic designs and vivid colors. Some masks have realistic human or animal features like lion or dragon, while others provide a grotesque appearance. Red is considered as a lucky color for Chinese people, therefore there are lots of red masks worn during the celebrations of New Year. Chinese New Year Masks are amongst the best creations in the art world and are highly sought after by art collectors.

Chinese New Year celebration in facial masks

    Many of the masks or some of its replica can be viewed in museums and art galleries in many parts of the world. Chinese New Year is swathed in beliefs of gods, spirits of ancestors, legendary beings, good and or evil, the dead, animal spirits, and other beings believed to have supreme power over humanity. Masks featuring such supreme powers are honored and are worn during the rituals surrounding the Chinese New Year like lion dance or dragon dance. Chinese New Year Masks are also hung around the homes as decorative.

Origin and meaning of Chinese facial masks

Written by Dlamini,
edited by TLAA

    

   The origins of Chinese masks are rooted in ancient religious shamanism. Over the centuries and many generations, artists refined the use of colors on Chinese masks. Today, color continues to be used to indicate emotions or give clues about the identity of a character.

A section of facial masks with different colors 

   There are several types of Chinese masks: dancer's masks, masks for festive occasions, masks for newborns, masks designed to keep homes safe and theatrical masks. When used on the stage, masks help viewers determine, at a glance, the attributes of a theatrical character. Masks are usually made from wood. However, Chinese opera masks, possibly the style that is best known in the west, are actually painted on actors' faces.

   Many colors are used in any given Chinese mask, but the dominant colors impart specific characteristics.

     Red used on masks indicates a positive character. Red can also mean prosperity, loyalty, courage and heroism. Red shows intelligence and bravery.

A mask that indicates heroism, bravery and loyalty.

    Purple is sometimes used as a substitute for red. In its own right, purple can represent justice and sophistication.

    Black means that the character is neutral. Black also indicates impartiality and integrity.

    Blue faces are also an indication of neutrality. In addition, blue can show stubbornness, astuteness and fierceness.

Green shows that the character is violent, impulsive and lacks restraint.

    Yellow tells the audience that the character is cruel. Yellow can also mean evil, hypocritical, ambitious or sly.

White faces indicate that the character is evil and hypocritical.

Mask that indicate evil and hypocritical.

    Gold and silver show the audience that the character is a god or a demon. The character also may be a ghost or a spirit. Gold and silver symbolize mystery.

Wood Carving and face painting art inception in Taiwan

Written by Mdlovu, edited by TLAA

    Most of the various forms of traditional opera that exist in Taiwan have their origins in China. These folk opera styles were brought to Taiwan by immigrants that include the Hakka immigrants. 

   By 1945, folk opera was the most significant form of entertainment for the people of Taiwan. As folk opera styles spread, they integrated elements from local musical traditions, generating new forms of performing arts that varied from the originals. 

Woodcarving-wood plaques

    This was the case with Chinese folk opera styles that were brought to Taiwan; variances in the spatial and temporal environment led to the advancement of new varieties of performing arts with a strongly local character. 

    For example, China’s Liyuan xi (“Pear Garden Opera”) evolved into Taiwan’s Nanguan Opera; after being brought to Taiwan, China’s Jiujia xi was influenced by Taiwan’s Beiguan xi, creating a new form of folk opera significantly different from the Chinese original; the introduction of Chinese puppet theatre into Taiwan was followed by fusions with Beiguan, Nanguan and Chaozhou Opera, which created new styles of puppetry performance unique to Taiwan. Because the owners, Mr. Lin Wenyuan and his wife, Peng Feiyu, admired face painting in Beijing opera and have over the years devoted themselves to the research and painting of the art, they have changed their classes from woodcarving skills for beginners to impromptu painting suitable for the public, especially families. 

Woodcarving-various mixed-media portraits

   The museum offers easy and fun classes such as mask and magnetic firefly painting, as well as personalized clay statues, various mixed-media portraits, and wood plaques, all of which are designed to increase the public’s interest in the art of woodcarving.

Food, Accommodation and Hospitality

Written by Mdlovu, edited by TLAA

    Accommodation is one of the main important things that are definitely offered to visitors who visit Shanbangiao Face painting and museum and spends a night or a couple of nights. 

Beautiful wood house

    There are many houses and rooms that are available to visitors who want to spend a night or a couple of nights at the museum. Moreover, visitors can come with their camping tents to camp; visitors who come with their camping tents have to make necessary bookings on time in order to secure space, they also have to bring their our food and cooking utensils to cook when they are hungry. 

Beautiful bedroom let you have a good dream

    

    Furthermore, visitors who want to sleep in the rooms have to make necessary booking also on time to secure rooms, they need not come with food and cooking utensils since they will be offered with breakfast, lunch and dinner whiles they are staying in the museum. On another note, from day one when you arrive at Shanbangiao until the last day when you leave there are friendly employees that are always ready to cater for all your needs. 

Enjoy camping in nature

   Staying in the rooms at Shanbangiao will keep memories harping; there are luxury rooms with a beautiful and attractive inside. They are situated next to a nice river and they are lifted above the ground, they are made up of wood blanks and are double story rooms, with bathrooms and toilets inside together with nice bedding. Just near the rooms are tall trees that hang above the rooms bringing about fresh air.

The meaning of the colors in Chinese face painting

Written by Mdlovu, edited by TLAA

There are several types of Chinese masks: dancer's masks, masks for festive events, masks for newborns, masks designed to keep homes safe and theatrical masks. When used on the stage, masks help viewers determine, at a glance, the attributes of a theatrical character. 

    Masks are usually made from wood. Many colors are used in any given Chinese mask, but the overriding colors impart specific characteristics. 

Different colors have different mean.

Masks very colorful, like red, purple, pink, black, green, gold, and silver.

    Red used on masks indicates a positive character. Red can also mean prosperity, loyalty, courage and heroism. Red shows intelligence somebody who is kind hearted and somebody who is brave and loyal. Purple is sometimes used as a substitute for red. In its own right, purple can represent justice and sophistication. The pink face means the god who unites persons in marriage and helps people who want to get married; Black means that the character is neutral. Black also indicates impartiality and integrity. Blue faces are also an indication of neutrality. 

  In addition, blue can show stubbornness, astuteness and fierceness someone who is loyal and sticks to one side no matter what. Green shows that the character is impulsive, violent, no self-restraint or self-control. Yellow tells the audience that the character is cruel. Yellow can also mean evil, hypocritical, ambitious or sly. White faces indicate that the character is evil, hypocritical, sinister, crafty, treacherous, and suspicious. Anyone wearing a white mask is usually the villain. Gold and silver usually used for gods and spirits, it shows the audience that the character is a god or a demon. The character also may be a ghost or a spirit. Gold and silver symbolize mystery.

The meaning of the faces

Written by Mdlovu, edited by TLAA

    The different colors in the different faces have their meaning in Chinese opera. There are six gods of wealth; these gods helps in generating and blessing people to have money prosper and have lucrative businesses. The pictures below show the 6 gods of wealth or money.

The 6 gods of wealth or money

    The god of academic or study is the one that is said to make students more brilliant and to pass at school; it makes students to remember everything they have leant. Most students like to draw this face whenever they visit the museum because the fully believe is the god that will make them succeed at school and pass with flying colors. The picture below shows the god of academics or study.

The god of academics or study

    

    The following face shows a god whom they Chinese people believe to chase or drive away ghosts and evil spirits.

The  face shows a god whom they Chinese people believe to chase or drive away ghosts and evil spirits.

     The elephant like face is a scorpion monster; the crooked face means a bad person who does bad and evil things.

Beautiful Face

    Mixed Colors- Sometimes there are several colors painted on the face which is called the face of mixed colors. Generally on such faces some pictures are sketched, for instance, if a man can swim the waves of the water are painted on his face; the God of the tire has fire flames painted on his face; a man who imitates a monkey has the picture of a monkey painted on his face; one who imitates a tiger has the form of a tiger painted on his face.