Mei Baojiu (Chinese: 梅è'†çŽ–; pinyin: Méi BÇŽojiÇ") (29 March 1934
â€" 25 April 2016) was a contemporary Peking opera artist, also a
performer of the Dan role type in Peking Opera and Kunqu opera, the
leader of Mei Lanfang Peking Opera troupe in Beijing Peking Opera
Theatre. Mei's father Mei Lanfang was one of the most famous Peking
opera performers. Mei Baojiu was the ninth and youngest child of Mei
Lanfang. For this reason, he was called Baojiu, since in Chinese, jiu
means nine. Mei Baojiu was the master of the second generation of Méi
School descendant, he was also Mei Lanfang's only child who is now a
performer of the Dan role of the Peking Opera.From childhood, Mei had
learned Peking Opera from many artists. Mei Baojiu's first opera
teacher was Wang Youqing (çŽ‹å¹¼å ¿), the nephew of Wang Yaoqing
(王ç'¶å ¿), who had been the teacher of Mei Lanfang. Tao Yuzhi
(é™¶çŽ‰èŠ ) was his teacher of martial arts, while Zhu Chuanming
(æœ±ä¼ èŒ—), the famous performer of the Dan role type in Kunqu opera,
taught him Kunqu. After that Mei learned the Dan role from Zhu Qinxin
(æœ±ç ´å¿ƒ). Mei's regular performances of traditional opera include
The Hegemon-King Bids His Concubine Farewell, Guifei Intoxicated
(貴妃醉é…'), Lady General Mu Takes Command (穆桂英挂帅), The
story of Yang Guifei (å¤ªçœŸå¤–ä¼ ), Luo Shen (洛神), Xi Shi
(西施), etc. Mei has made significant contributions to cultural
exchanges and promoting Peking Opera culture. Meanwhile, he also
trains more than twenty students, such as Li Shengsu (æ Žèƒœç´ ), Dong
Yuanyuan (è'£åœ†åœ†), Zhang Jing (å¼ æ™¶), Zhang Xinyue (å¼ é¦¨æœˆ),
Hu Wenge (èƒ¡æ–‡é˜ ) (the only male student), Tian Hui (ç"°æ…§), Wei
Haimin.In the spring of 1934, Mei Baojiu was born at No. 87 Sinan
Road, Shanghai. Because of his comely appearance and delicate voice,
his father decided to send Baojiu to learn Peking opera and hoped that
Baojiu could make contributions to Méi School. Baojiu himself also
showed great interest as well as gifts in Peking opera in his early
life. In 1942, Mei Lanfang and his wife Fu Zhifang (ç¦ èŠ èŠ³) invited
Wang Youqing (çŽ‹å¹¼å ¿), the disciple of famous Dan role performer -
Wang Yaoqing (王ç'¶å ¿), from Beijing to teach Baojiu as his first
qingyi teacher while requesting Zhu Chuanming (æœ±ä¼ èŒ—), one of the
most prestigious performers of the Dan role type to teach Baojiu Kunqu
Opera. When Mei Lanfang was free from work, he also gave directions to
his son himself.
â€" 25 April 2016) was a contemporary Peking opera artist, also a
performer of the Dan role type in Peking Opera and Kunqu opera, the
leader of Mei Lanfang Peking Opera troupe in Beijing Peking Opera
Theatre. Mei's father Mei Lanfang was one of the most famous Peking
opera performers. Mei Baojiu was the ninth and youngest child of Mei
Lanfang. For this reason, he was called Baojiu, since in Chinese, jiu
means nine. Mei Baojiu was the master of the second generation of Méi
School descendant, he was also Mei Lanfang's only child who is now a
performer of the Dan role of the Peking Opera.From childhood, Mei had
learned Peking Opera from many artists. Mei Baojiu's first opera
teacher was Wang Youqing (çŽ‹å¹¼å ¿), the nephew of Wang Yaoqing
(王ç'¶å ¿), who had been the teacher of Mei Lanfang. Tao Yuzhi
(é™¶çŽ‰èŠ ) was his teacher of martial arts, while Zhu Chuanming
(æœ±ä¼ èŒ—), the famous performer of the Dan role type in Kunqu opera,
taught him Kunqu. After that Mei learned the Dan role from Zhu Qinxin
(æœ±ç ´å¿ƒ). Mei's regular performances of traditional opera include
The Hegemon-King Bids His Concubine Farewell, Guifei Intoxicated
(貴妃醉é…'), Lady General Mu Takes Command (穆桂英挂帅), The
story of Yang Guifei (å¤ªçœŸå¤–ä¼ ), Luo Shen (洛神), Xi Shi
(西施), etc. Mei has made significant contributions to cultural
exchanges and promoting Peking Opera culture. Meanwhile, he also
trains more than twenty students, such as Li Shengsu (æ Žèƒœç´ ), Dong
Yuanyuan (è'£åœ†åœ†), Zhang Jing (å¼ æ™¶), Zhang Xinyue (å¼ é¦¨æœˆ),
Hu Wenge (èƒ¡æ–‡é˜ ) (the only male student), Tian Hui (ç"°æ…§), Wei
Haimin.In the spring of 1934, Mei Baojiu was born at No. 87 Sinan
Road, Shanghai. Because of his comely appearance and delicate voice,
his father decided to send Baojiu to learn Peking opera and hoped that
Baojiu could make contributions to Méi School. Baojiu himself also
showed great interest as well as gifts in Peking opera in his early
life. In 1942, Mei Lanfang and his wife Fu Zhifang (ç¦ èŠ èŠ³) invited
Wang Youqing (çŽ‹å¹¼å ¿), the disciple of famous Dan role performer -
Wang Yaoqing (王ç'¶å ¿), from Beijing to teach Baojiu as his first
qingyi teacher while requesting Zhu Chuanming (æœ±ä¼ èŒ—), one of the
most prestigious performers of the Dan role type to teach Baojiu Kunqu
Opera. When Mei Lanfang was free from work, he also gave directions to
his son himself.
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