Mei Lanfang was the most distinguished Peking Opera performer of the 20th century, celebrated not only for his exceptional theatrical talent but also for his profound cultural literacy, theoretical insights, and global perspective. He was the first to introduce Chinese Peking Opera to international audiences, establishing a platform for equitable exchange and dialogue between Eastern and Western theatrical traditions, thereby making significant contributions to the promotion of Chinese culture.
"The Timeless Legend of Mei Lanfang," compiled by Liu Zhen, President of the China Mei Lanfang Culture and Art Research Association and former Director of the Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum, presents a comprehensive exploration of this iconic artist. The book is structured into six sections: historical studies, dissemination, documents, prefaces and reviews, interviews, and appendices. It offers an extensive introduction and analysis of Mei Lanfang, emphasizing his artistic and cultural achievements from various perspectives. These encompass his performance theories and methodologies, innovations in performance art, artistic spirit, cultural consciousness, and his role in cultural dissemination and historical responsibility.Richly illustrated and highly accessible, the book features new research findings and recently uncovered archival materials related to Mei Lanfang. Such in-depth examinations of individual artists provide invaluable insights and references that can aid in the exploration and advancement of Chinese opera art. These contributions are essential for the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture.ransformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture.
HISTORICALARGUMENT
Mei Lanfang ' s Performing Theory and System…………3
Yu Shuyan in the Oral History of an Artist…………38
A Preliminary Discussion on the Artistic Spirit of
Mei Lanfang and Cultural Space…………65
Mei Lanfang's Performance Innovation and the Spirit of
Traditional Art…………89
Promoteand carry forward China's excellent traditional
culture, and build the Mei Lanfang performance
art system………… 100
Mei Baojiu and the Inheritance and Development of
Peking Opera …………107
COMMUNICATION
Mei Lanfang and Cultural Communication …………117
Grieg: "Nordic Snow" and His Perspective on
Mei Lanfang and Chinese Opera …………142
A Study on Mei Lanfang 's Visit to Vancouver in 1930………… 163
Looking Back at Mei Lanfang' s "Going Global"
in the 21st Century ………… 192
Mei Lanfang : From "Peerless Opera Monarch " to
"Artistic Laborer" ………… 205
DOCUMENTS
The Study of Exploration and Friendship about
he Letters from Tian Han to Mei Lanfang …………27
"Five Tones Master" The discovery of DengHongshan's
letter to Mei Lanfang and Others Matters ………… 256
Hu Shi and MeiLanfang's Association Facilitated the
Cross -cultural Spread of Opera ………… 267
From Jinghe tang to Zhuiyu xuan ………… 281
Yu Zhenfei ' s Letters to Mei Lanfang , Inscribed Fan Poems,
and Related Documents with Annotations …………303
Documents , Records and Art , History …………322
Mei Lanfang and His Painting Art …………331
PREFACEAND COMMENTARY
The World Significance of 'The Stone of Other Mountains'
and Mei Lanfang ' s Drama ………… 365
Inaugural Statement of Mei Lanfang Studies Journal 379
Mei Lanfang 's performing art …………383
Conducting oneself with integrity and pursuing
brightnes …………388
Elegant Strings and Songs …………393
Exchange and mutual learning , go global ………… 398
Preface to theCollection of Rubbingsin the
Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall ………… 403
Preface to the Study of Mei Lanfang 's Ancestral Home …………409
Prefaceto The Generationand Evolution of
Mei Lanfang 's Performance Programmes ………… 414
Prefaceto Introduction to the Collection of
Mei Lanfang 's Artistic Life ………… 419
Epilogue to Forty Years of Stage Life ………… 422
INTERVIEW
Mei Lanfang goes to the world ………… 429
Classical opera is like "turning rice into wine" …………453
Go Global ! Let Chinese opera surprise the world ………… 466
EnduringFragrance of Mei, Century-OldCharm
Ever True …………473
The 'Mei Lanfang 's Splendor ' Exhibition and the
Construction of an Academic -Oriented Public
Culture at the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall …………484
The Enlightenment of FarewellMy Concubine for
Performing Arts and Creation in the New Era………… 518
Appendix
Mei Lanfang 's Famous Quotes ………… 527
AFTERWORD ………… 567
Mei Lanfang ' s Performing Theory and System…………3
Yu Shuyan in the Oral History of an Artist…………38
A Preliminary Discussion on the Artistic Spirit of
Mei Lanfang and Cultural Space…………65
Mei Lanfang's Performance Innovation and the Spirit of
Traditional Art…………89
Promoteand carry forward China's excellent traditional
culture, and build the Mei Lanfang performance
art system………… 100
Mei Baojiu and the Inheritance and Development of
Peking Opera …………107
COMMUNICATION
Mei Lanfang and Cultural Communication …………117
Grieg: "Nordic Snow" and His Perspective on
Mei Lanfang and Chinese Opera …………142
A Study on Mei Lanfang 's Visit to Vancouver in 1930………… 163
Looking Back at Mei Lanfang' s "Going Global"
in the 21st Century ………… 192
Mei Lanfang : From "Peerless Opera Monarch " to
"Artistic Laborer" ………… 205
DOCUMENTS
The Study of Exploration and Friendship about
he Letters from Tian Han to Mei Lanfang …………27
"Five Tones Master" The discovery of DengHongshan's
letter to Mei Lanfang and Others Matters ………… 256
Hu Shi and MeiLanfang's Association Facilitated the
Cross -cultural Spread of Opera ………… 267
From Jinghe tang to Zhuiyu xuan ………… 281
Yu Zhenfei ' s Letters to Mei Lanfang , Inscribed Fan Poems,
and Related Documents with Annotations …………303
Documents , Records and Art , History …………322
Mei Lanfang and His Painting Art …………331
PREFACEAND COMMENTARY
The World Significance of 'The Stone of Other Mountains'
and Mei Lanfang ' s Drama ………… 365
Inaugural Statement of Mei Lanfang Studies Journal 379
Mei Lanfang 's performing art …………383
Conducting oneself with integrity and pursuing
brightnes …………388
Elegant Strings and Songs …………393
Exchange and mutual learning , go global ………… 398
Preface to theCollection of Rubbingsin the
Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall ………… 403
Preface to the Study of Mei Lanfang 's Ancestral Home …………409
Prefaceto The Generationand Evolution of
Mei Lanfang 's Performance Programmes ………… 414
Prefaceto Introduction to the Collection of
Mei Lanfang 's Artistic Life ………… 419
Epilogue to Forty Years of Stage Life ………… 422
INTERVIEW
Mei Lanfang goes to the world ………… 429
Classical opera is like "turning rice into wine" …………453
Go Global ! Let Chinese opera surprise the world ………… 466
EnduringFragrance of Mei, Century-OldCharm
Ever True …………473
The 'Mei Lanfang 's Splendor ' Exhibition and the
Construction of an Academic -Oriented Public
Culture at the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall …………484
The Enlightenment of FarewellMy Concubine for
Performing Arts and Creation in the New Era………… 518
Appendix
Mei Lanfang 's Famous Quotes ………… 527
AFTERWORD ………… 567
Wang Yixin is a Master's degree holder and a best-selling author. He serves as a mentor at the University of Southern California and as a visiting professor at Xi'an Foreign Affairs University, in addition to being an external mentor at Taishan University of Science and Technology and Jinzhong Information College. He is a member of the Shaanxi Writers Association, the Chinese Novel Association, and the Jiangsu Writers Academy, as well as a trainee at the Lu Xun Academy of Literature.
Wang has translated and published 12 books, including "The Self and the Ego," "The Odyssey," "Hofburg Palace," "Royal Palace of Madrid," "Alhambra," "Encyclopedia of Cats," and "The History of Visual Arts of Nintendo." Additionally, he has authored and published 22 works, such as "Biography of Su Xun," "Biography of Yang Jiang," "Gaslight Effect," "Watching National Treasures with Children," and "Comic Water Margin for Kids." His writings have appeared in over a hundred publications, including notable magazines such as "Zhiyin," "Yanhe," "Meiwen," and "Peony." He has been recognized with honors, including being named one of the Fourth Batch of Shaanxi Young Literary Stars.