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The secrets of ‘Bianlian’, or face-changing, in one of the oldest forms of Chinese entertainment - Sichuan Opera - are being revealed by some performers.

 

The disclosures have provoked intense dispute and debate in China about whether performers should keep the tricks of their trade very secret or let the cat out of the bag about their trickery as the country's Cultural Heritage Day gets underway tomorrow, June 10.  

 

Some artists of Sichuan Opera have sold the tricks to other parts of the country and even overseas, according to Wang Daozheng, a 68-year-old face-changing Sichuan master. 

 

Some cultural experts have called for the case to be investigated and for those giving away the secrets to be punished. Some others believe China should not consider the art a state secret.

 

"An art recognized by the world has the most powerful life force," Peng Denghuai, another Sichuan-based face-changing master, told Xinhua,

 

"We should let the technique go abroad and make it a renowned Chinese cultural attraction to a global audience," he said.

 

Sichuan Opera is distinguished by the face-changing techniques. Performers change masks in quick succession with a wave of the hand or by turning around. Professionals can change around 10 masks in 20 seconds. In China there are only 200 artists who are able to perform face-changing.

 

Hu Jixian, vice-director in charge of art affairs of Sichuan Province said face-changing was a rare art heritage in China and called for better protection and development of the technique.

 

“Since it’s listed as a top level secret in China this case of disclosure is an individual one and we will take appropriate measures to deal with it," the official said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2006)