Take Meng Liang - the famous warrior of the Song Dynasty - for example. Each pattern is rooted in his ability to make subtle and interesting changes within the human face, and each pattern has its own symbolic meaning. The jingrole in Peking Opera has many forms of facial make-up, including the 'whole-face', 'three-tile face', 'quartered face', 'six-division face', 'tiny-flowered face' and 'lopsided face'. Different colors can also distinguish nobility from the common folk, goodness from evil or loyalty from treachery. Later, other colors were gradually incorporated, such as purple - the symbol of solemnity, serenity and a sense of justice yellow, representing intelligence and calculation or bravery when used in warrior roles blue shows uprightness and stubbornness green indicates bravery and irascibility and gold and silver are sometimes used on the faces of immortals, demons and monsters. Red is the color of loyalty, integrity and courage black suggests a serious and taciturn disposition, including strength and roughness white reveals a crafty and suspicious character.

Originally, only three colors were used - red, white and black - each with its own symbolic meaning. In Peking Opera, lianpucolors are of great importance in revealing the age, profession and personality of a character.

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