Old Beijing Old Playbills -- From the Xuantong to the Republic: From the Xuantong to the Republic

Author: Du Guangpei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: The old playbills document the past dramas, renowned performers, and theaters, serving as a true reflection of the stage practice of generations of actors and an important part of the history of Chinese opera. They record the cultural development history of the (Liyuan Chunqiu) and the Beijing opera history. The publication of this book will be a valuable reference for opera enthusiasts, Beijing history researchers, and a broad readership who love traditional Chinese culture and folk customs. Since the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, Beijing gradually became a hub of opera and quyi art, giving rise to numerous famous opera performers, classic plays, and renowned theaters. The representative form of Beijing opera became known as "the national opera," marking a historical peak in the development of Chinese opera. The over 130 exquisite old playbills of major Beijing theaters collected in this book faithfully record the prosperity of this golden era of opera. They not only showcase the rich repertoire performed by numerous renowned predecessors of Beijing opera and quyi, such as Chen Delin, Yang Xiaolou, Yu Shuyan, Mei Lanfang, Gong Yunfu, Cheng Jixian, Liu Baoquan, and Rong Jiachen, but also unfold a historical panorama of the development of Chinese opera for us.