Costumes reveal an enduring legacy

In the heart of the exhibition hall of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, two intricately embroidered costumes stand side by side, capturing the legacy of Peking Opera masters Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) and his son Mei Baojiu (1934-2016).

These stunning garments, both worn in performances of the iconic Peking Opera production The Drunken Concubine, symbolize the seamless transmission of artistic genius between these two legends.

The robe, worn by Mei Lanfang, features delicate phoenix motifs and radiates the elegance and grace of his pioneering portrayal of Yang Yuhuan, a concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

The costume worn by Mei Baojiu carries the weight of tradition, infused with his own subtle innovations with embroidered flying birds and flowers.

The two costumes, though separated by decades, embody the artistic continuity and evolution of the performing style created by Mei Lanfang.