The beards used in Peking Opera are collectively known as “rankou” and are mostly worn by middle-aged and older male characters.  In accordance with the character´s age and identity, the beard can be black, grey or white.  The character´s occupation, personality and physique also influence the style of beard he wears.  A small number of characters with uniquely strange appearances or violent temperaments and mythical creatures also wear red, purple, blue, black and red colored beard.

Actors perform various actions involving the beard to express specific emotions, such as lifting and holding the beard represents in deep thought; throwing the beard expresses anger or frustration; shaking means fright, frailty or annoyance; blowing the beard stands for vexation. These actions can be performed alone or in combination with dance movements.  The basic training of the use of the beard is called “rankougong” (beard skills).

“Manran” (full beard) is the exaggerated representation of real-life full beard. It covers the entire area of the mouth, long and bushy, not separated into strands.  “Manran” is generally used by military officers, also characters with strong temperament, treacherous, or old.

 “Yiziran”,a short, straight beard like the Chinese character “一”(one, pronounced “yi”).  It can be black or red and is used by characters that are scruffy, reckless or vicious, played by “chou” (comic) or “jing” (male actors that wear mask-like facial makeup).

The three-strand beard, generally called “sanluo”, “sanran” or simply “san” (“san” is three in Chinese, “luo” means strand, and “ran” means beard).  The long beard is divided into three strands, one on each side of the cheek and one directly under the chin.  The three-strand beard is a more “clean and elegant” look, mostly worn by “sheng” actors portraying middle aged or older rulers, high ranked officials, gentry, wealthy merchants and hermit scholars.