Abstract Qi Rushan's influence on the development of modern Peking Opera deserves acknowledgement,and the aesthetic essence of Mei Lanfang's art of Peking Opera transformed by Qi deserves more of our in-depth discussion .Although Mei Lanfang's art was sharply andironically criticized by Lu Xun,it has been widely praised by the Western world,which makes Chinese people too proud to see its essence,and therefore,unable to have an insight into the merits and demerits of Qi Rushan's opera practice .Qi Rushan's opera practice was mainly represented by the design of choreography and costumes for Pihuang Drama .In seeking the rationality of his″dance″ practice in opera,Qi Rushan cited a number of literature on dance since Han and Wei Dynasties . But in fact,his inspiration for choreography came mainly from his familiarity with Pihuang Drama .As the opera was mainly made up of stylized dance movements,Mei Lanfang's art became one of those in pursuit of beauty in form,which actually diluted the theme of humanistic concern .
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