A Brief History of the Peking Opera Actress Shisandan

――Focusing on the Japanese Performances――

Abstract

The Peking Opera actress Shisandan, who was born in Jiangsu China at the end of the 19th Century and had been performing on stage since early childhood, and who was highly regarded as a skilled performer in China, came to Japan leading a troupe in April of 1926. Starting in Kobe and extending throughout Japan, she performed both new works and classic pieces from Peking Opera, and introduced the state of Peking Opera at that time and the existence of the Peking Opera actress. She also appeared in a play within a play which was part of a new Kabuki piece, and fulfilled her role in Japanese and Chinese theater relations. However, because of these shows in Japan, Shisandan was unexpectedly caught in the midst of a war between military factions in China and international conflict between Japan and China. Unfavorable conditions continued to persist and there were many saddening aspects to her life. It can be said that Shisandan is a pioneering figure among Peking Opera actresses. Centering on the performances in Japan, the short life of Shisandan will be introduced here.