Liu Senpu says making opera costumes is a very complicated craft. Actors must be knitted out from head to toe, from headdresses to shoes and everything in between.

There are regulations involved in storing the clothes, and the traditional way is to keep them in five trunks. The dresses themselves take up three.

The first trunk holds all civilian garments -- the ceremonial and official robes. The second has military clothing -- armor and uniforms. The third is the accessory box, containing collar guards and padded waistcoats. In the fourth trunk are the headdresses, which include all kinds of headwear -- crowns, turbans and facial adornments such as fake beards and traditional moustaches. And in the fifth, flags and drapery items are kept -- stage props, curtains, tablecloths and so on.

"Nearly all traditional costumes are handmade," said Liu.

Silk is always the traditional fabric. All delicate patterns, the phoenix, dragon, wave and cloud motifs, are embroidered with gold and silver thread.

There are 13 procedures involved in making the headwear, including making patterns, paper pasting, painting and sticking.

It is these complicated procedures that make the look of Peking Opera so unique.

(China Daily September 6, 2004)