Tan Xinpei


Tan Xinpei was a Chinese Peking opera artist who specialized in sheng roles. A disciple of Cheng Changgeng, Tan Xinpei was undoubtedly the most important Peking opera performer of his generation. Some of his audio recordings have survived. He was also the only actor in China's earliest film Dingjun Mountain.
More than 40 of his family members have, over seven generations, worked as Peking opera performers, including his son Tan Xiaopei, grandson Tan Fuying, great-grandson Tan Yuanshou, and great-great-grandson Tan Xiaozeng.

In popular culture

In the 1993 TV series Niu Zihou and Fu Lian Cheng, Tan Xinpei is portrayed by Peking opera artist Li Fuchun. In the 2000 film Shadow Magic, the character Tan Linmei is clearly based on Tan Xinpei. He is played by Peking opera artist Li Yusheng. In the 2005 film Dingjun Mountain, Tan Xinpei is portrayed by his great-grandson Tan Yuanshou, Tan Fuying's son and a notable Peking opera artist in his own right.