Author Description

Volume 1 of Historical Data Series of Beijing Opera and Kun Qu in the Republic of China includes History of Opera Players, Tales in the Opera Garden, and Brief Biography of Thirteen Peerless Players. History of Opera Players introduces 32 famous players such as Cheng Changgen, Sun Juxian, and Chen Delin. It focuses on many factors closely related to performances, such as political situations, folk customs, development of opera, and imperial systems. Wiritten by Wang Mengsheng and published in 1915 by Commercial Press, Tales in the Opera Garden mainly introduces opera activities from late Qing Dynasty to early Republic of China; it also comments on renowned players artistic accomplishments. The first-hand data and documents are uniquely precious for modern people.