Xun Huisheng
Xun Huisheng (5 January 1900 - 26 December 1968) was one of Peking Opera's "Four Great Dan", along with Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, and Shang Xiaoyun.[1][2] All four were men who played the female lead roles (dan) during the generation when such roles became open to actresses again, after two centuries of exclusively male portrayal.
| Xun Huisheng | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 荀慧生 | ||||||||
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Life
Xun was one of Peking Opera's "Four Famous Dans" (四大名旦, Sì Dàmíng Dàn), along with Li Shaochun, Tan Xiaopei, and Li Wanchun's fathers.[3]
Xun was best known for his portrayal of the "flowery girl" (hua dan) roles, women who tended to be more vivacious or even of questionable character.[1] He served as one of the mentors and guardians of the actress Li Yuru as she began her career.[4]
He died in Hebei on 26 December 1968.
References
Citations
- "Peking Opera". China Internet Information Center. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
- Goldstein, Joshua (2007). Drama kings: players and publics in the re-creation of Peking opera, 1870-1937. University of California Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-520-24752-9.
- Zhou Huan, ed. (1990), 菊海竞渡——李万春回忆录 [The Chrysanthemum Sea Regatta: Li Wanchun's Memoirs], Beijing: Chinese Literature & History Press, p. 7. (in Chinese)
- Li (2010), p. 226.
Bibliography
- Li Ruru (2010), "2010 Commemorations of the Theatrical Careers of Cao Yu and Li Yuru" (PDF), CHINOPERL Papers, vol. No. 29, Conference on Chinese Oral and Performing Literature.