China Stamps: 2009-29

China Stamps
Name: Stage Art of Ma Lianliang (马连良舞台艺术)
Number: 2009-29
Date of Issue: 28 November 2009
Value: 2 stamps/set

Denominations:
1.20元 (2-1): Summoning the East Wind (借东风)
1.20元 (2-2): Orphan of the Zhao Family (赵氏孤儿)

Ma Lianliang (1901 - 1966), a native of Beijing, of Hui ethnic group, was a renowned master of Peking Opera. At the age of eight, he entered Xi Lian Cheng Opera School. After graduation, he combined what he learned from the school with bold innovation, and based on stage practice, he gradually developed a unique artistic style of his own, which is now commonly known as the Ma School. The images he portrayed on stage featured distinctive personalities, and in addition to outstanding performance in singing, recitation and acting, the master impressed the audience with his accurate representation of scenarios and vivid depiction of dramatic figures, thus realizing a perfect fusion of play plots with artistic forms. His most representative plays, including "Summoning the East Wind", "Sweet Dew Temple", "Su Wu as a Shepherd" and "Orphan of the Zhao Family", enjoy great popularity among the audience. The superb stage art of Ma Lianliang made a great contribution to the development of Peking Opera, exerting a profound influence that still lingers today.