Wang Yaoqing (Peking opera)

Wang Yaoqing (simplified Chinese: 王瑶卿; traditional Chinese: 王瑤卿; pinyin: Wáng Yáoqīng; 28 December 1881 – 3 June 1954) was a Chinese actor and singer noted for playing the role of a virtuous adult woman, or qingyi,[lower-alpha 2] the most important role in Peking opera. He was from Qingjiangpu District, Huai'an in eastern Jiangsu Province.[1]

For the Taiwanese actor, see Wang Yaoqing.
Wang Yaoqing
Wang Yaoqing plays Queen Mother Xiao in Yanmen Pass.[lower-alpha 1]
Chinese王瑶卿

Wang was noted for his skills as a long-sleeved dancer, for sword dancing, and for his portrayal of a stylish Manchu lady. He was president of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts from 1951 to 1954. He taught many other actors, including Mei Lanfang, the best-known singer of the genre.[2]

Biography

Wang's father, Wang Xuanyun,[lower-alpha 3] was an actor in Kun Opera.[3] He died when Yaoqing was 10. Yaoqing learned female impersonation from Tian Baolin.[lower-alpha 4][4]

In 1894, Wang performed in The Pagoda,[lower-alpha 5] his first play. In 1896, the Cheng Troupe was formed with Wang as a member.[5] In 1897, he married the daughter of Yang Duoxian.[lower-alpha 6] His acting troupe disbanded during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Afterwards, he joined the Fushou Troupe.[4]

In 1904, Wang was summoned to the palace and asked to set lyrics written by Empress Dowager Cixi to music. He was awarded thirty taels for this.[3]

Wang registered to play for the imperial household. His role as a Manchu lady in Incident at Fen River Bend[lower-alpha 7] was appreciated by Cixi. He joined the Tongqing Troupe in 1905. With partner Tan Xinpei, Wang introduced various innovations to the qingyi role, including a greater range of facial expression and stylized body movement.[6][4]

Wang's other notable roles include Fourth Son Visits His Mother,[lower-alpha 8] The Wujia Slope,[lower-alpha 9] Nantian Gate,[lower-alpha 10][6] Goose Gate Pass, Mulan Joins the Army, Story of a White Snake, and Story of Willow Shade.[7]

Wang's voice deteriorated early. His last performance was in 1926 in Shanghai.[8] In the 1930s, he was a teacher at the Chinese Opera Academy.[lower-alpha 11] This school was disbanded in 1941.

Wang was also a noted theater critic. He came up a set of four characters to describe the "four great dan." (A dan is a female impersonator.)[9] Wang served as president of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, which was established in 1950. He died in 1954.[4]

More than sixty of Wang's manuscripts were left at Gumei Studio, his residence. He often collaborated with Chen Moxiang. Wang would set Chen's lyrics to music.[3]

A sound recording series of his work aimed at schoolchildren entitled Wang Yaoqing Talks about Opera was released in 1961.[10] In 2016, there was a concert at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to honor Wang's 135th birthday.[11]

Notes
  1. Yànmén guān,《雁门关》.
  2. Qīngyī, 青衣, lit. "verdant-clad."
  3. Wáng Xuànyún, 王绚云
  4. Tián Bǎolín, 田宝琳
  5. Jìtǎ,《祭塔》.
  6. Yáng Duǒxiān, 杨朵仙
  7. Fénhé Wān,《汾河弯》.
  8. Sìláng tàn mǔ,《四郎探母》.
  9. Wǔjiā pō,《武家坡》.
  10. Nántiān mén,《南天门》.
  11. Zhōnghuá xìqǔ zhuānkē xuéxiào, 中华戏曲专科学校.

References
  1. Wang Kaihao, "Symposium marks birth anniversary of Peking Opera guru Wang Yaoqing," China Daily, 2016-12-29.
  2. Wang, Ningning (2019), A History of Ancient Chinese Music and Dance, American Academic Press, p. 479, ISBN 9781631816345
  3. Rolston, David, Inscribing Jingju/Peking Opera: Textualization and Performance, Authorship and Censorship of the “National Drama” of China from the Late Qing to the Present, 2021, ISBN 9004463399, p. 274.
  4. "王瑶卿", Baidu.
  5. 事件：喜庆戏班报庙 (Event: Festive Theatrical Troupe Reporting the Temple), Temple Festive Troupe Newspaper, Nov. 6, 1896.
  6. "Wang Yao-ch'ing," Boorman, Howard L. (1967), Biographical Dictionary of the Republic of China, III, Columbia University Press, p. 398, ISBN 9780231089579
  7. "Wang Yaoqing," Tan, Ye (2020), Historical Dictionary of Chinese Theater, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, p. 359, ISBN 9781538120644
  8. "事件：言菊朋二次赴沪演出" (Event: Yan Jupeng performed in Shanghai for the second time), Longevity Mirror, May 21, 1926. The reviewer complained that, "Yaoqing lost his voice and Jupeng is too tender."
  9. Zhang Kun, "The stories behind the four great actors," China Daily USA, 2018-04-07.
  10. Wang, Yaoqing (1961), Wáng yáo qīng shuō xì,《王瑶卿说戏》, Tai bei xian san chong shi (女王唱片)
  11. 弘扬国粹传承历史：纪念京剧大师王瑶卿诞辰135周年 (Carrying forward the national quintessence and inheriting history: commemorating the 135th anniversary of the birth of Beijing opera master Wang Yaoqing), Youth Commune, 30 Dec 2016.

Further reading
  • Wang Yaoqing, "Wo de Youdian shidai" (My Youth), Juexue yuekan, 2.3, (1933): 17-19. Autobiographical material.
  • Shi Ruoxu et al, 1985, Wáng Yáoqīng yìshù pínglùn jí 王瑶卿艺术评论集 (Collected essays on the Art of Wang Yaoqing), Beijing, Zhongguo Yishu.
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