Famous Peking Opera performer Liu Guijuan shows off a lavish kingfisher feather headdress on Sina Weibo.
China's State-run news agency on Saturday defended the traditional use of bird feathers on the headwear of opera performers, following a recent boycott by animal rights activists of a Peking Opera actress who showed such headwear on Sina Weibo.
The Xinhua News Agency said the craft is part of traditional Chinese culture.
Actress Liu Guijuan said on her Sina Weibo account that the headwear was decorated with feathers of 80 kingfishers and will never fade and people could not buy it even if they are willing to pay 400,000 yuan ($64,600).
She also said that was bought over 10 years ago It was decorated Many animal rights activists criticized Liu for being cruel, claiming that the feathers were pulled down from live birds. However, Xinhua said that over 90 types of kingfishers exist in the world and the headwear is presumably made of feathers of "common kingfishers," which Xinhua claims are not protected species and are seen in every region in China, and getting its feathers won't have a devastating impact.
Xinhua also stressed that this craft symbolizes the essence of traditional Chinese culture and Peking Opera, a world heritage, which should be protected, nurtured and promoted.
But science website guokr.com said that "common kingfishers" are also known as "alcedo atthis," which are included in the list of protected animals issued by the State Forestry Administration in 2000.
Liu told the Beijing Times Friday that she doesn't understand the criticism since the headwear can be seen in the Chang'an Grand Theater every day. " Which popular performer doesn't own a headwear?" she questioned.
Ji Chao, a scriptwriter of traditional operas, told the Global Times that in most performances, silk has replaced kingfisher feathers.
"While we respect the traditional craft, we should stop using birds' feathers," Ji said.
