Keeping the nandan flame alive

As dusk falls, the soft glow of the Mei Lanfang Theatre casts a warm light over the audience, its atmosphere thick with reverence and anticipation.

Located in the heart of Beijing, the Mei Lanfang Theatre is a dedicated space for the performance of Peking Opera, or jingju, one of China's most cherished traditional art forms.

At the center of the theater stands a statue of Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), the legendary master of Peking Opera and an enduring symbol of the deep connection between the past and the present.

Peking Opera, which dates back over 200 years, was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. A unique fusion of singing, dancing, martial arts, and acrobatics, this art form captures the soul of Chinese theater, drawing audiences into its world of emotional intensity and physical precision.

On Nov 21, the rare and invaluable art of Peking Opera's nandan — male performers who take on female roles — came to life once more. In the performance, Hu Wen'ge, one of the foremost nandan artists, took the stage in the lead role of Yuzhoufeng (Sword of the Cosmos), a classic Peking Opera piece.

Once performed by Mei and many other masters of traditional Chinese theater, Sword of the Cosmos holds immense significance in both Chinese theatrical history and Mei's artistic legacy. In his memoir, Forty Years of Stage Life, Mei Lanfang spoke of this play as his personal favorite — one that he poured his heart and soul into.

"I learned Sword of the Cosmos from my first teacher, and I've cherished it ever since," Mei wrote in his memoir. "As I grew older, I became more and more fascinated with it. By the time I turned 30, I had become somewhat addicted to performing it. Whenever my manager assigned me roles for the season, I was always flexible with the other plays, but Sword of the Cosmos was one that I insisted on performing again and again — just to satisfy my craving for the role."