Water sleeves (Chinese:
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Zhui_Yu_2.jpg/260px-Zhui_Yu_2.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Pekinguniversitykunqu2.jpg/260px-Pekinguniversitykunqu2.jpg)
The handling of water sleeves to express different feelings is a difficult technique which takes years to master.
History
editAlthough long and wide sleeves were used by imperial Chinese politicians for centuries,[2] water sleeves did not appear in Chinese theatre until the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). They were extensions of the 1-inch cuff in regular dresses, which protected the sleeves from wear and tear. Originally water sleeves were made of cloth, but these were replaced by silk ones in later years.[1]
Techniques
editWater sleeves are used to express elegance and emotions, whose techniques will require years of rigorous training to master. The most common basic water sleeves skills (Chinese:
Variation
editNowadays, the longest water sleeves are found in Jilin opera, and the shortest in Sichuan opera.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Ye, Tan (2008). Historical Dictionary of Chinese Theater. The Scarecrow Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-0-8108-5514-4.
- ^ a b Bonds, Alexandra B. (2008). Beijing Opera Costumes: The Visual Communication of Character and Culture. University of Hawaiʻi Press. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0-8248-2956-8.