Google China Logo - Mei Lan Fang 梅兰芳诞辰115周年
Mei Lanfang (simplified Chinese: 梅兰芳; traditional Chinese: 梅蘭芳; pinyin: Méi Lánfāng) (October 22, 1894 – August 8, 1961) was one of the most famous Beijing (Peking) opera artists in modern history, exclusively known for his qingyi roles, a type of dan role. Méi Lánfāng is his stage name, and in Chinese it is generally considered a feminine name. His real name was Méi Lán (simplified Chinese: 梅澜; traditional Chinese: 梅瀾). Mei, Shang Xiaoyun (尚小云), Cheng Yanqiu (程砚秋) and Xun Huisheng (荀慧生) were known as Four Great Dan in the golden era of Peking Opera.
梅兰芳，名澜，字浣华，原籍江苏泰洲(今改为县)，1894年出生在北京的京剧梨园世家。他的祖父梅巧玲是“同光十三绝”之一，著名旦角演员；他的父亲梅竹芬早年演老生，后演小生，最后改青衣，生前也是颇有名气的旦角演员。梅兰芳从小受到京剧的熏陶，拜了不少名师，他8岁就登台演戏，20岁已蜚声南北，25岁出国献艺。他1919年至1935年先后到日本、美国、苏联演出，第一个把中国的京剧艺术传播到海外去，成为饮誉中外的京剧艺术大师。
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