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Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is a composite performance art that is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more than a thousand years, reaching its mature form in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Early forms of Chinese drama are simple, but over time they incorporated various art forms, such as music, song and dance, martial arts, acrobatics, as well as literary art forms to become Chinese opera.<br/><br/> There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, including the Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera and kunqu and Lvju.
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is a composite performance art that is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more than a thousand years, reaching its mature form in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Early forms of Chinese drama are simple, but over time they incorporated various art forms, such as music, song and dance, martial arts, acrobatics, as well as literary art forms to become Chinese opera.<br/><br/> There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, including the Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera and kunqu and Lvju.
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is a composite performance art that is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more than a thousand years, reaching its mature form in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Early forms of Chinese drama are simple, but over time they incorporated various art forms, such as music, song and dance, martial arts, acrobatics, as well as literary art forms to become Chinese opera.<br/><br/> There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, including the Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera and kunqu and Lvju.
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is a composite performance art that is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more than a thousand years, reaching its mature form in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Early forms of Chinese drama are simple, but over time they incorporated various art forms, such as music, song and dance, martial arts, acrobatics, as well as literary art forms to become Chinese opera.<br/><br/> There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, including the Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera and kunqu and Lvju.
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is a composite performance art that is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more than a thousand years, reaching its mature form in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Early forms of Chinese drama are simple, but over time they incorporated various art forms, such as music, song and dance, martial arts, acrobatics, as well as literary art forms to become Chinese opera.<br/><br/> There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, including the Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera and kunqu and Lvju.
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is a composite performance art that is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more than a thousand years, reaching its mature form in the 13th century during the Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Early forms of Chinese drama are simple, but over time they incorporated various art forms, such as music, song and dance, martial arts, acrobatics, as well as literary art forms to become Chinese opera.<br/><br/> There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, including the Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera and kunqu and Lvju.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (Jīngju) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju. It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
John Thomson (14 June 1837 – 29 September 1921) was a pioneering Scottish photographer, geographer and traveller. He was one of the first photographers to travel to the Far East, documenting the people, landscapes and artifacts of eastern cultures.<br/><br/> Thomson's travels in China were often perilous, as he visited remote, almost unpopulated regions far inland. Most of the people he encountered had never seen a Westerner or camera before. His expeditions were also especially challenging because he had to transport his bulky wooden camera, many large, fragile glass plates, and potentially explosive chemicals. He photographed in a wide variety of conditions and often had to improvise because chemicals were difficult to acquire. His subject matter varied enormously: from humble beggars and street people to Mandarins, Princes and senior government officials; from remote monasteries to Imperial Palaces; from simple rural villages to magnificent landscapes.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
Guan Yu (died 219), style name Yunchang, was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the first emperor.<br/><br/> As one of the best known Chinese historical figures throughout East Asia, Guan's true life stories have largely given way to fictionalised ones, most of which are found in the historical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' or passed down the generations, in which his deeds and moral qualities have been lionised. Guan is respected as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness.<br/><br/> Guan was deified as early as the Sui Dynasty and is still worshipped by many Chinese people today, especially in southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among many overseas Chinese communities. He is a figure in Chinese folk religion, popular Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism, and small shrines to Guan are almost ubiquitous in traditional Chinese shops and restaurants.
Peking opera or Beijing opera (京剧; traditional Chinese: 京劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.<br/><br/> It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.<br/><br/> Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.
The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) was originally created during the Ming Dynasty, but was designed in its current form by Qing emperor Qianlong (r. 1736 - 1795). It is however Qianlong’s mother, the Qing Dowager Empress Cixi who is most irrevocably linked to the palace, since she had it restored twice during her reign, once in 1860 after it was plundered by British and French troops during the Second Opium War, and again in 1902 when foreign troops sought reprisals for the Boxer Rebellion, an anti-Christian movement.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.
Meng Xiaodong was born in Shanghai in 1907 and by the age of 13 was already singing Peking Opera at the Da Shijie 'Great World' Entertainment Complex. During the course of her professional career she sang all over China, always returning to Shanghai. In Chinese opera, she always played bearded men.<br/><br/> In 1925, Shanghai-born 18 year-old Meng Xiaodong met Mei Lanfang for the first time while performing on stage together during a minister's birthday party in Beijing. Over a year later, she married Mei and became his third wife. They had a daughter together just before their marriage ended in 1931. Reportedly, they never spoke to each other again. In a strange twist of fate, Meng Xiaodong later became the concubine and then fifth wife of Shanghai gangster, Green Gang leader and right wing politician Du Yuesheng ('Big Ears Du').<br/><br/> Meng Xiaodong moved to Taiwan in the 1960s, died in 1977, and is buried in the Buddhist cemetery at Jinglu Temple at Shanjia, Shulin in Taipei County.
Meng Xiaodong was born in Shanghai in 1907 and by the age of 13 was already singing Peking Opera at the Da Shijie 'Great World' Entertainment Complex. During the course of her professional career she sang all over China, always returning to Shanghai. In Chinese opera, she always played bearded men.<br/><br/> In 1925, Shanghai-born 18 year-old Meng Xiaodong met Mei Lanfang for the first time while performing on stage together during a minister's birthday party in Beijing. Over a year later, she married Mei and became his third wife. They had a daughter together just before their marriage ended in 1931. Reportedly, they never spoke to each other again. In a strange twist of fate, Meng Xiaodong later became the concubine and then fifth wife of Shanghai gangster, Green Gang leader and right wing politician Du Yuesheng ('Big Ears Du').<br/><br/> Meng Xiaodong moved to Taiwan in the 1960s, died in 1977, and is buried in the Buddhist cemetery at Jinglu Temple at Shanjia, Shulin in Taipei County.
Meng Xiaodong was born in Shanghai in 1907 and by the age of 13 was already singing Peking Opera at the Da Shijie 'Great World' Entertainment Complex. During the course of her professional career she sang all over China, always returning to Shanghai. In Chinese opera, she always played bearded men.<br/><br/> In 1925, Shanghai-born 18 year-old Meng Xiaodong met Mei Lanfang for the first time while performing on stage together during a minister's birthday party in Beijing. Over a year later, she married Mei and became his third wife. They had a daughter together just before their marriage ended in 1931. Reportedly, they never spoke to each other again. In a strange twist of fate, Meng Xiaodong later became the concubine and then fifth wife of Shanghai gangster, Green Gang leader and right wing politician Du Yuesheng ('Big Ears Du').<br/><br/> Meng Xiaodong moved to Taiwan in the 1960s, died in 1977, and is buried in the Buddhist cemetery at Jinglu Temple at Shanjia, Shulin in Taipei County.
Meng Xiaodong was born in Shanghai in 1907 and by the age of 13 was already singing Peking Opera at the Da Shijie 'Great World' Entertainment Complex. During the course of her professional career she sang all over China, always returning to Shanghai. In Chinese opera, she always played bearded men.<br/><br/> In 1925, Shanghai-born 18 year-old Meng Xiaodong met Mei Lanfang for the first time while performing on stage together during a minister's birthday party in Beijing. Over a year later, she married Mei and became his third wife. They had a daughter together just before their marriage ended in 1931. Reportedly, they never spoke to each other again. In a strange twist of fate, Meng Xiaodong later became the concubine and then fifth wife of Shanghai gangster, Green Gang leader and right wing politician Du Yuesheng ('Big Ears Du').<br/><br/> Meng Xiaodong moved to Taiwan in the 1960s, died in 1977, and is buried in the Buddhist cemetery at Jinglu Temple at Shanjia, Shulin in Taipei County.
Saloth Sar (May 19, 1928–April 15, 1998), better known as Pol Pot, was the leader of the Cambodian communist movement known as the Khmer Rouge and Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea from 1976–1979. In 1979, after the invasion of Cambodia by Vietnam, Pol Pot fled into the jungles of southwest Cambodia. Pol Pot died in 1998 while held under house arrest by the Ta Mok faction of the Khmer Rouge.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.
Meng Xiaodong was born in Shanghai in 1907 and by the age of 13 was already singing Peking Opera at the Da Shijie 'Great World' Entertainment Complex. During the course of her professional career she sang all over China, always returning to Shanghai. In Chinese opera, she always played bearded men.<br/><br/> In 1925, Shanghai-born 18 year-old Meng Xiaodong met Mei Lanfang for the first time while performing on stage together during a minister's birthday party in Beijing. Over a year later, she married Mei and became his third wife. They had a daughter together just before their marriage ended in 1931. Reportedly, they never spoke to each other again. In a strange twist of fate, Meng Xiaodong later became the concubine and then fifth wife of Shanghai gangster, Green Gang leader and right wing politician Du Yuesheng ('Big Ears Du').<br/><br/> Meng Xiaodong moved to Taiwan in the 1960s, died in 1977, and is buried in the Buddhist cemetery at Jinglu Temple at Shanjia, Shulin in Taipei County.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.
Mei was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu(1894), into a family of Beijing Opera and Kunqu performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old.<br/><br/> In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim. He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu.<br/><br/> In July 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred. The Imperial Japanese Army soon occupied Beijing. The commander of the Japanese Army ordered Mei to perform for them and appointed Mei to a high ranking official position. But Mei refused to sing throughout the duration of the war and endured an impoverished lifestyle until the war ended in 1945.<br/><br/> Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. After 1949 he served as the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Between 1926 and 1931 he was married to Beijing Opera star Meng Xiaodong. They had one child.