Yue Opera actress Chen Lijun said childhood cultural influences remain forever etched in her memory while shedding light on her connection to the popular Chinese opera genre originating from Shengzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province.
In 2023, Chen played a supporting male role in the innovative Yue Opera production "New Dragon Gate Inn", adapted from a 1992 Hong Kong film of the same name, which brought her widespread popularity in China. The 32-year-old rising star has demonstrated a unique feminine strength in her career by portraying male roles consecutively in Yue Opera.
Growing up in Shengzhou, the birthplace of Yue Opera, Chen was inspired by art form an early age, often hearing her grandparents and parents hum tunes.
"With the strong presence of Yue Opera, my hometown has a great impact on me. Yue Opera originating from Shengzhou shapes my dialect, and is my cultural root. Even if I was not trained in Yue Opera or did not pursue this artistic career, I would still feel a strong connection to it. I believe that culture has a significant influence on my childhood," said Chen.
At the age of 13, she decided to become a Yue Opera performer and entered a local art school, beginning years of intensive practice in gestures, expressions, movements, and steps.
"I was the youngest student in my class at the time. The old art school was located next to the City God Temple, surrounded by a small garden full of flowers and trees, such as grapefruit trees, osmanthus fragrans, Chinese peonies, wisteria, and many other plants I loved. I studied art in this artistic environment. When ground was covered in a carpet of golden and orange leaves in autumn, it was really romantic. Of course, it seems even more romantic in my memory. Those three years were truly wonderful for me," said Chen.
Yue Opera actress finds strength in childhood cultural roots
