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'Tiger-fighting' Peking Opera artist remembered

CCTV.com

04-05-2016 18:36 BJT

We remember today a Peking Opera master whose portrayal of a tiger-fighting hero has become legend. Gai Jiaotian is one of the most influential figures in the artform's "martial" genre.

Gai Jiaotian

Gai Jiaotian

Peking Opera is well-known for its two major traditions -- the "civil" one characterized by singing and dancing, and the "martial" one featuring acrobatic fighting and stunts. 

It is the latter form for which Gai Jiaotian is most revered.

Born in 1888 in northern China's Hebei Province, Gai developed his own "Wusheng" or "man with marital arts" performing school.

He famously portrayed Wu Song, a tiger-fighting hero who joins up with bandits, turning it into classic of Peking Opera; and Xiang Yu, a key military leader.

"Performances in memory of Gai are a rare chance to promote and preserve the martial-arts style of the age-old Peking Opera," said Zhang Mingzhu, granddaughter of Gai Jiaotian.

Gai was granted honorary awards by the Ministry of Culture in 1952 and 1956. He died in Beijing in 1971.

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