背景资料:
“变脸王”王道正是川剧变脸绝技的改革者，他创造并丰富了很多川剧变脸的招式和身段。王道正回忆说，１９８７年５月，他随四川省川剧院在日本表演变脸川剧《白蛇传》时，日本记者一直跟踪录像，研究变脸的秘密，但最终只测出他的变脸速度在１秒之内，至于秘密在哪里，只能慨叹一声：“不知道！”
王道正说变脸在日本引起轰动后，日方曾表示要用５万美元买变脸的秘密，被他拒绝。然而多年后当王道正再去日本，却发现已有日本艺人在表演变脸了。此后，王道正在韩国、德国、新加坡等国都发现有艺人在娱乐场所表演。王道正说，当地一位朋友告诉他，变脸绝技是中国内地一位演员私自传授给日本艺人的，而那名日本艺人仅付了很少的钱。
The secret performing technique of "Bianlian", or face-changing, in one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera - Sichuan Opera - has been revealed by some performers without authority allowance.
The disclosure has provoked intense disputes in China on keeping secret or publishing tricks in the sector of performing technique as the country's Cultural Heritage Day, on June 10, moves closer.
Some artists of Sichuan Opera have sold the trick to other parts of the country and even overseas, according to Wang Daozheng, a 68-year-old face-changing master in Sichuan.
Some cultural experts have called for the case to be investigated the secret-teller to be punished. Some others believe China should not consider the art a state secret.
"An art recognized by the world has the most powerful life force," Peng Denghuai, another Sichuan-based face-changing master, told Xinhua,
"We should let the technique go abroad and make it a renowned Chinese cultural attraction to a global audience," Peng said.
Sichuan Opera is distinguished by the face-changing technique.Performers change masks in quick succession with a wave of the hand or by turning around.
Professionals can change around some 10 masks in 20 seconds. In China, there are only 200 artists who are able to perform face-changing.
Hu Jixian, vice-director in charge of art affairs of Sichuan province, said face-changing is a rare art heritage in China, calling for better protection and development of the technique.
Since it is listed as a high-level secret of China, this case of disclosure is an individual one and we will take appropriate measures to deal with it," the official said.
