Yuan Xuefen (26 March 1922 – 19 February 2011) was a noted performer in the

Yue opera Yue opera, also known as Shaoxing opera, is the Chinese opera genre. Only Peking opera is more popular nationwide. Originating in Shengzhou, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province in 1906, Yue opera features actresses in male roles as well as femininity ...

genre of

Chinese opera Traditional Chinese opera (), or ''Xiqu'', is a form of musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more tha ...

. She has been called "arguably the most important actress in the recent history of Yueju haoxingopera". The only other artist to be ranked with her is Fu Quanxiang.Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Clara Wing-chung Ho A. D. Stefanowska, Sue Wiles ''Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women'' Volume 2 2003 Page 170 "Fu Quanxiang Fu Quanxiang, b. 1923, as Sun Quanxiang in a village in Shengxian County, Zhejiang Province, is one of China's two most famous yueju artists, the other being Yuan Xuefen":

Biography

Yuan is most known for playing the title role in the 1946 production of ''Sister Xianglin'', an adaptation of a work by

Lu Xun Zhou Shuren (25 September 1881 – 19 October 1936), better known by his pen name Lu Xun (or Lu Sun; ; Wade–Giles: Lu Hsün), was a Chinese writer, essayist, poet, and literary critic. He was a leading figure of modern Chinese literature. W ...

. Before beginning work on the adaptation of the work, she personally visited the home of

Xu Guangping Xu Guangping (, 1898 – 1968), her former name "Xu Chongqian" (), was a Chinese female writer, politician, and social activist. She was well known as the partner of Chinese writer Lu Xun. Biography Born in Guangzhou in a family of Great Qing o ...

and Zhou Haiying, Lu Xun's wife and son, and asked their permission. According to Zhou, his mother quickly granted the request. Yuan is credited with leading the reform of Yue opera staging during the 1940s. Changes included the extensive use of lighting and scenery, and a new, soft style of costuming. In 1964, the film ''

Two Stage Sisters Two Stage Sisters is a 1964 Chinese drama film produced by Shanghai Tianma Film Studio and directed by Xie Jin, starring Xie Fang and Cao Yindi. Made just before the Cultural Revolution, it tells the story of two female Yue opera practitioners f ...

'', based on Yuan's life, was released. During the

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goal ...

, Yuan was severely persecuted as a way of attacking Premier

Zhou Enlai Zhou Enlai (; 5 March 1898 – 8 January 1976) was a Chinese statesman and military officer who served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, premier of the People's Republic of China from 1 October 1949 until his death on 8 J ...

, who supported the film.

References

1922 births 2011 deaths Actresses from Shaoxing Yue opera actresses People from Shengzhou Victims of the Cultural Revolution Musicians from Shaoxing 20th-century Chinese actresses {{china-bio-stub