After the cancellation of the performance in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Tianjin’s renowned Peking Opera actress, Liu Guijuan, known for her roles as Qingyi (virtuous maiden) and Zhengdan (male lead), had her scheduled performances in Shanghai on December 13th and 14th also called off. Prior to this, she was reported for her past social media posts making fun of the deceased Communist Party leader Mao Zedong and Lei Feng, as well as sharing a photo captioned “Blood Flag Covers Dog.”
In an announcement released on December 2nd by the Shanghai Tian Chan Yifu Stage, the scheduled performances of Peking Opera classics “Red Mane Horse” and “Lady Spring in the Jade Pavilion” on December 13th and 14th were canceled without specifying the exact reasons for the suspension. Liu Guijuan was supposed to be the lead actress in these two performances.
As a disciple of Li Shiji and a prominent figure in the Tianjin Peking Opera scene, the 59-year-old Liu Guijuan is considered the top box office draw in the Peking Opera world. Her portrayal of Xue Xiangling is filled with the artistic charm of the Cheng School, and her performances in scenes such as “Selecting the Vanity Box,” “Spring and Autumn Pavilion,” “Pearl Tower,” and “Three Bow Chairs” are well-known highlights of the play.
Previously, some internet users exposed screenshots from Liu Guijuan’s personal Weibo account, accusing her of repeatedly insulting Lei Feng, tarnishing the image of the teacher (Mao Zedong), and posting a photo with the caption “Blood Flag Covers Dog,” which was deemed to violate the Hero Law and the National Flag Law.
In April 2018, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the Communist Party of China passed the Hero Martyr Protection Law, and on March 1, 2021, the Communist Party of China implemented amendments to the Criminal Law, officially criminalizing the “crime of infringing upon the reputation and honor of heroes.” The Xi Jinping administration has used this to strengthen speech control over dissidents and public intellectuals in China, leading to criticism from the international community.
Subsequently, the performances of Peking Opera classics “Lady Spring in the Jade Pavilion” and “Lady Wenji Returns to Han” by Liu Guijuan, originally scheduled to take place on November 29th and 30th at 7:30 pm at the Zijin Grand Theater in Jiangsu, were also canceled. Afterwards, a Weibo account under the handle “Da Feng Chui Zou” called on Shanghai to follow Jiangsu’s example of “canceling Liu Guijuan’s performances.” The suspension of Liu Guijuan’s performances may be related to this incident.
However, some netizens questioned the sensitivity of the authorities, stating, “Just for quoting a few sentences, what she said wasn’t that serious. Can the authorities not handle this?”
Currently, besides the canceled performances in Nanjing, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, Liu Guijuan has upcoming shows in Tianjin on the 21st and 29th of this month. Some netizens have mentioned that “reports have already been made in Tianjin.” The fate of Liu Guijuan’s performances in Tianjin is now a subject of widespread attention.
Further reading:
Peking Opera Actress Suspected of Being Suspended Due to Remarks, Previously Posted Photo of “Blood Flag Covers Dog”