Stage names mainly reflect the different artistic pursuits and artistic experiences of actors (especially some famous actors of the older generation).
To sum up, the stage names for opera actors basically fall into the following situations:
1. Named after their ranking in science and art.
Famous Peking Opera masters such as Hou Xirui, Ma Lianliang, Yuan Shihai, Qiu Shengrong, etc. are all named after their studies in the "Fu Liancheng" class;
Famous Kun Opera masters Zhou Chuanying, Wang Chuansong, They are named after their studies at Suzhou Kunqu Opera School;
Famous Peking Opera masters Song Dezhu, Li Hezeng, Wang Jinlu, Hou Yulan, etc. are named after their studies at the "Chinese Opera School".
2. The stage names of some opera actors indicate the time and age when they started performing.
Like Peking Opera actor Zhou Xinfang, he performed on stage at the age of seven, so he was named "Qilingtong". Later, it was renamed "Qilin Tong" based on the homophony of "Seven Ling Tong".
This type of actors include "six-year-old children", "thirteen-year-old children" and so on.
3. The stage names of some opera actors indicate the time when they became famous on stage.
Like "eight-year-old red", "ten-year-old red", "thirteen-year-old red" and so on.
4. The stage names of some opera actors reflect their acting styles and characteristics.
Like the Hebei Bangzi Tsing Yi actor "Jingang Diamond", his original name is Wang Yingxian. Because of his high-pitched and exciting voice, the "Da'anban" he sings is circuitous and swaying, and has the wonderful effect of "three sighs in one song". Hence the name "Diamond".
Peking Opera Wudan actor Yan Lanqiu was given the stage name "Nine Winds" because of his nimbleness and quickness in martial arts.
5. The stage names of some opera actors indicate the artistic style they pursue and the relationship between teachers and teachers.
Like the Ping Opera actor "Xiao Bai Yushuang", whose real name is Li Zaiwen, she was named after learning from Bai Yushuang and advocating her artistic style;
Such as "Xiao Wang Guiqing", "Xiao Wang Guiqing" "Diamond" and so on;
6. The stage names of some opera actors indicate that they are descendants of certain famous actors.
Like Tan Xinpei’s son Tan Xiaopei, Ye Shenglan’s son Ye Shaolan, Yuan Shihai’s son Yuan Xiaohai, Yan Jupeng’s son Yan Shaopeng, Li Guichun’s son Li Shaochun, etc.;
Like Shao opera actors Zhang Jinlai was born in a family of monkey opera performers. His father, "Liu Ling Tong", left the stage at an early age. His second brother, whose stage name was "Xiao Liu Ling Tong", unfortunately died young. When it was Zhang Jinlai's turn to come up with a stage name, he reversed his second brother's stage name "Xiao Liulingtong" and called it "Liu Xiaolingtong". This is a bit like the several changes of Sun Wukong. Sometimes he is called "Sun Xingzhe", sometimes he is called "Walker Sun", and sometimes he is called "Zhe Xingzhe Sun". No matter how he changes, he always remains true to his origin.
Another example is the famous Henan Opera artist Chang Xiangyu. Her eldest daughter is named Chang Xiaoyu, her third daughter is named Chang Ruyu, her granddaughter is named Xiaoxiangyu (a bit like a tongue twister), and the list goes on.
7. The stage names of some opera actors indicate their personal sentiments and mottos.
For example, the title of the Henan drama "The Grass of Ugly Cows" means that cows can only survive if they have grass to eat. It means that as long as actors can go deep into life and continuously absorb nutrients from life, they can continuously enrich their creative skills and create vivid stage art images.
Another example is the stage name of the famous Peking Opera master Gai Jingtian. Because it is widely known, I won’t go into details here.
The stage names of opera actors come in many varieties, each with its own personality. Generally speaking, they can be summarized in the following situations. Because everyone’s circumstances are different and their pursuits and hobbies are different, it’s impossible to list them all. It was very common for actors to use stage names in the entertainment industry before liberation. After liberation, they were occasionally followed, but rarely.