Ruylencheng Thirty Years History (Revised Edition)

Author: Tang Botao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-09-01
Features: The History of the Fuchen Cheng Troupe was originally compiled in the early 1930s. The information I know about the book's publication and the circumstances surrounding it are all written in the appendix The Owners of the Fuchen Cheng Troupe—The Shen Family of the Outer Establishment, which accompanies the newly printed edition. The History of the Fuchen Cheng Troupe was independently published by Mr. Shen Xiushui, and it was primarily distributed as promotional material, with very limited circulation in society. Today, it is as rare as a star in the sky. The contributions of the Fuchen Cheng troupe to Peking Opera and its status in the history of Peking Opera are widely recognized and need no further elaboration. The early direct historical materials of the Fuchen Cheng troupe are limited to this book, which is now considered extremely precious. The Fuchen Cheng troupe, officially known as the Fuchen Cheng Society, was formally established in 1904. Its original name was initially Xilian Sheng, which was soon changed to Xilian Cheng. The original owner was the Jilin businessman Niu Zihou (then known as the " troupe master"), and the headmaster was Ye Chunshan. In 1912, during the Xinhai Revolution, Niu Zihou's business failed, and the troupe's operations were in a dire state. These circumstances were likely related to the economic downturn caused by the "national mourning" for Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu from 1909 to 1912, as well as the continuous revolutionary uprisings. At this time, the troupe faced dissolution. Ye Chunshan, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, did everything he could and eventually connected with the Shen family of the outer establishment, inviting Shen Kun (styled Renshan, my great-grandfather) to take over the troupe and rename it Fuchen She. Later, as its reputation grew, it was often simply referred to as She.