Though fighting is an awkward scene in real life, in Peking opera, an actor should fight beautifully and make it seem attractive. Song Dezhu, a master of wu dan, turns the fighting scenes found in Peking opera into an art form.
Peking Opera, a synthesis of singing, reading, dancing, and martial arts, is widely regarded as one of the highest expressions of the Chinese culture. An introduction to Peking Opera would be incomplete without mentioning the brilliant female roles. Today we will bring the story of late Song Dezhu, a master of Peking opera's female characters, who would have been celebrating his 90th birthday this year.
With its fascinating performance, costumes and props, Peking Opera is known as China's national opera. In Peking opera, there are four roles: the male and female roles, the painted-face role, and the comedic role. The female role is also known as dan in Chinese. Song Dezhu got his fame by playing wu dan, the female character skilled in martial arts.
Song formed his own style, which later became known as the Song branch of Peking opera. The distinguished features of the school can be described as straightforward, crisp, beautiful, and charming. The specialty is its fighting scene, which Song Dezhu excelled at.
Wang Jinlu, a former classmate of Song Dezhu recalls.
"His acting in fight scenes is quick and beautiful. Though fighting is the most awkward scene in real life, in Peking opera, an actor should act and fight beautifully and attractively. Song Dezhu made it appear this way."
Born in 1918 in Beijing, Song's passion for Peking Opera was inspired by the social atmosphere he was exposed to. Peking Opera first rose to public popularity in the 19th Century and flourished in the 1930s and 40s. In 1927, a national selection for the top Dan actors was launched. As a result, Mei Lanfang, Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqiu and Xun Huisheng were the most outstanding and named the four most famous dan actors in Peking Opera.
The achievement of the four masters greatly encouraged Song Dezhu's desire to learn more. At the age of 12, he entered the China Traditional Opera School for professional training in wu dan. He got further instructions from famous actors such as Chen Yanqiu, one of the four leading dan actors in the country.
The eight years he spent in that school were far from easy, not so different from the life of the Peking Opera characters in the award-winning film "Farewell My Concubine".
His former classmate Wang Jinlu recalls.
"Once I saw him practicing lifting his leg to his head on the ice. I said to him that it was too dangerous but he still kept on doing it. He really set an example for me."
Song Dezhu's efforts finally bore fruit. The artist developed his own repertoire, and his performances were well received by the public. Eventually, his eminent performances led to his election as one of the four sub-leading dan actors of Peking Opera. In 1938, Song formed his own opera troupe and toured different parts of the country. Song Danju is Song's daughter, and also a successor of the Song branch of Peking opera.
"Since the 1940s, my father's acting mainly focused on wu dan and he took it to a high level. He was smart and assiduous, and he was lucky to be taught by famous actors at that time. So he could absorb the merits of others and develop his own style."
Unfortunately, as the Cultural Revolution silenced traditional Peking Opera, for 10 years, artists like Song were out of work. However, this offered a chance for Song Dezhu to teach his skills to some followers. 77-year-old Zhang Zhengfang, one of Song's disciples, long remembered his guidance.
"I liked Mr. Song's performances very much. Every time he finished performing, I would go backstage to learn something from him. Once he asked me which part of an opera I didn't perform well, I told him. It was late and the carpet on the stage had been rolled up. But he unfolded the carpet and demonstrated for me. Then I practiced over and over again until he was satisfied. He was such a selfless teacher that I will never expect to have a teacher like him again."
Song Danju is now a teacher of Peking Opera.
"I know that it's hard to inherit the spirit of a branch of Peking opera, let alone to create a new one. I found it important to let more people know the Song branch and it is my obligation to enhance the development of this art form."
The influence of the Song branch has somehow exceeded Peking opera, and it has set an example for many local operas and dance groups. Song Dezhu died at the early age of 66 in 1984. As he always said, he didn't take away anything, but he really left with us numerous successors of his art and his spirit will continue to live on in the world of opera.
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