Di Xi Mask

20th century AD
Shanghai Museum

One entire wall of the minority culture room is dedicated to the display of masks, of outstanding quality and interest, for traditional dances and performances. They are very difficult to photograph; they seem to be protected by an "aura" of thick protective glass that receives the full glare of this brightly lit room. One mask, seen here, did allow itself to be photographed. It is a character from Di Xi, the local opera of Guizhou in southwest China.