Chinese Opera Artists 中国戏曲 08 Xun Huisheng

Xun Huisheng (荀慧生 1900-1968) was one of the four famous dan (female characters) in Beijing opera, along with Mei Lanfang (梅兰芳1894-1966), Shang Xiaoyun (尚小云1899-1976) and Cheng Yanqiu (程砚秋1900-1968).

Xun was born on Jan. 5th , 1900, to a poor family in Dongguan County, Hebei Province. He began learning the art at 8, then moved to Beijing studying with a famous performer, Hou Junshan, playing huadan (a type of female characters). His career as a Beijing opera performer officially started in 1918, when he joined the Xiqunshe troupe.

Xun rose to fame in 1919 when he performed with Yang Xiaolou and Tan Xiaopei. He spent the next seven years touring around southern China and building his reputation. In his career, Xun also adapted more than 100 librettos, such as Chaitoufeng, Zhuo Wenjun and Du Shiniang, and invented a new changqiang (singing) of female role by combining traits from local operas with Beijing opera.

Xun passed away on December 26th , 1968.