The ancient art of ‘changing faces’

SIBU: The performer, attired in brightly coloured costume, takes but a fleeting second to change his mask (face) for the many characters he acts out.

MASK OFF: Wong in traditional costume with hat in hand.

‘Bian Lian’ is an ancient Chinese dramatic art that is part of the Sichuan opera.

It began 300 years ago during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty.

Edmond Wong Yik Tze, 33, performed it for a Chinese New Year celebration.

Dressed in bright red traditional costume, he had on layers of the masks, which he quickly changed one after another to the amazement of his audience.

Wong has been interested in the arts from young. He was into the Southern Hakka Praying Mantis martial art which he learned from his father.

He went on to learn the Chinese opera moves from

his mother and later picked up some magic tricks.

The businessman learnt about the Sichuan traditional art of mask-changing from a friend and was coached by two teachers, Jin Zhenyang and Zhang Zhaomeng last year.

Both teachers are from Sichuan. Jin is much younger than Wong.

The Sichuan  youth inherited the art while lady teacher Zhang learnt it after the Sichuan Earthquake.

Wong said Zhang was lucky as according to tradition, women were to stay out of the arts.

According to Confucius’ teachings, the fairer sex must not acquire any form of art from her family as she will be married into another family.

What comes from her family must be handed down to the sons only.

Wong said Sichuan Opera told stories of Chinese heroes and legendary figures like the Monkey King in the Tale of the Journey to the West, characters found in the Romance of the Three Kingdom and so forth.

He said the personality of a character was expressed in the mask, and when he had the mask of a certain character on, he would act accordingly.

“The storytelling must be crystal clear because it is a mime show.”

The speed of the mask-changing is impressive and has remained a secret for centuries.

Wong said performers were not supposed to leak out the techniques like magician David Copperfield who kept people guessing for decades on how he made the Statue of Liberty disappear.

The young businessman from X4 Generation Sdn Bhd said he learnt the art with three others in Sibu: a 60-year-old woman who learnt it for amusement, a seven-year-old boy, and a youth in his 20s.

There are only two performers in Sarawak. Besides him, the other one is in Miri. He said there were a dozen more in the country.

Recently, Hong Kong pop star Andy Lau picked up the art from skilled masters. He learned the trick but had yet to master it for performances.

Wong’s determination to learn it touched his teachers from Sichuan.

“During the lessons, I practised from morning till midnight. I learnt it with operatic movement to go with the masks’ characters.”

Wong has reached the intermediate stage. He hopes to go for its highest form when he will be able to change a mask while fanning himself.

Wong has performed thrice. His next performance will be end of March at a function to be held by Sibu United Chinese Association’s Women  Section.

Any taboo attached to the learning?  Wong said a student would not have to take an oath to seal his lips.

“There is also no ceremony or offering of incense to the spirit of the stage.”

“The will and determination to  learn comes from my heart. It is this passion that leads me to it.

His aspiration?

Wong hopes to gain exposure at the annual Bian Lian International Competition in China. He might consider taking in students, but has to consult his teachers first.