Chinese Quick-change research

Since watching the performance of the Chinese mask quick-change artists, I have wondered just how the actors were able to pull off such magnificent feats. I tried to do research online regarding the secrets behind the illusion but could find very little. Most of the search results consisted of videos of performers rather than information behind their tricks. With a little more effort, I discovered that this is due to the secrecy that still surrounds the tradition.

            This quick-change art is apparently a very well-kept and guarded secret of the ancient Chinese culture. It has existed for about 300 years, originally as part of the Sichuan opera. Tradition dictates that the techniques of the mask changing can only be passed down to people of Chinese descent. To increase the amount of secrecy, the art is passed within families, and then they could only be passed onto sons. This restriction against women was apparently not just a result of a male dominated culture but an effort to keep the secrets within each family because a woman, upon marrying into another family, ran the risk of spreading the trick beyond her immediate relatives. 

            These cultural rules are reminiscent of multiple principles held dear to the Chinese people. For instance, the Chinese put a large emphasis upon the family unit; as a traditionally communalist country this is only to be expected. Therefore it comes as no surprise that even their artistic pursuits would center around family. The Chinese people are also known for being isolationists, which explains their rigorous efforts to preserve the secrets behind their uniquely Chinese art. These efforts can also be explained by the way in which the Chinese hold tradition in highest esteem; by forbidding outsiders to learn it, they hope to preserve it as a pure art within their own culture.