Mei Lanfang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mei Lanfang
Born	(1894-10-22)October 22, 1894 Beijing
Died	August 8, 1961(1961-08-08) (aged 66)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	梅蘭 梅蘭芳
Simplified Chinese	梅兰 梅兰芳
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Méi Lán Méi Lánfāng

Mei Lanfang (born Mei Lan, October 22, 1894 – August 8, 1961) was a very famous Peking opera artist from China. He is known as one of the greatest performers in modern Chinese theater. People even called him the "Queen of Peking Opera" because he was so good.

Mei Lanfang was especially famous for playing female roles on stage. He was best at playing "verdant-robed girls", which are graceful young or middle-aged women. He was considered one of the "Four Great Dan" performers, along with Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqiu, and Xun Huisheng.

Early Life and Training

Mei Lanfang was born in Beijing in 1894. His family had a long history of performing Peking opera and Kunqu opera. Kunqu is an older style of Chinese theater that includes drama, ballet, opera, poetry, and music.

Mei Lanfang started training in Chinese opera when he was just 8 years old. He learned acting, singing, and even acrobatics.

A Star on Stage

Mei Lanfang made his first public appearance on stage in 1904. He was only 11 years old! He performed at the Guanghe Theatre and played the role of a weaving girl.

He performed for 50 years, always trying new things while keeping the traditional style. His most famous roles were always female characters. He was so skilled at playing women that he became famous around the world. His smooth and perfect style of performing is now called the "Mei School" in opera.

Mei Lanfang also helped keep the Kunqu opera tradition alive. He was especially known for his performances as Du Liniang in The Peony Pavilion and Bái Sùzhēn in Legend of the White Snake. His portrayal of Beauty Yu was so powerful that many considered him one of China's greatest vocal artists.

Sharing Chinese Opera with the World

Mei Lanfang was the first Chinese artist to introduce Beijing Opera to other countries. He traveled to Japan, the United States, and Europe to share his art. He made friends with famous Western artists like Charlie Chaplin.

In 1930, he toured North America, visiting Hollywood. There, he was welcomed by famous actors like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. In 1935, Mei toured Europe, performing for large audiences in Berlin and Moscow. His performances even inspired the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Mei Lanfang also helped guide young actresses like Li Yuru when they started their careers.

During Wartime

In July 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army took over Beijing. The Japanese army commander wanted Mei Lanfang to perform for them and offered him an important position. However, Mei Lanfang bravely refused to perform for the Japanese throughout the entire war. He chose to live a difficult life without much money until the war ended in 1945.

Bust of Méi Lánfāng in the Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum in Beijing

Later Life and Legacy

After 1949, Mei Lanfang held many important positions in Chinese arts. He became the director of the China Beijing Opera Theater and the Chinese Opera Research Institute. He also served as a vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. In 1959, he joined the Communist Party of China.

Mei Lanfang wrote an autobiography called Forty Years of Life on the Stage. Many of his articles and essays were published in The Collected Works of Mei Lanfang. Recordings of his best performances are available in A Selection of Beijing Operas Performed by Mei Lanfang.

His life story has also been told in films. In 2000, a documentary called The Worlds of Mei Lanfang was made about him. In 2008, a movie about his life, Forever Enthralled, was directed by the famous director Chen Kaige.

Helping Others

Mei Lanfang was also a kind person who helped others. In 1924, he went to Japan after a huge earthquake, the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, caused a lot of damage. He performed there and also donated money to help the people affected by the disaster.

Family Life

Mei Lanfang married Wang Minghua in 1910. They had a son and a daughter together. Later, in 1921, he married another opera actress named Fu Zhifang. They had nine children together.

Mei Lanfang's daughter, Mei Baoyue, also became a Chinese opera performer. His son, Mei Baojiu (1934-2016), followed in his father's footsteps and became a famous dan performer in Chinese opera.

Mei Lanfang Family portrait in the 1940s.

See also

In Spanish: Mei Lanfang para niños