8 Mei Lan-fang—China’s Greatest Actor 171 9 Analogies Between East and West 190 Chronological Table 221 Bibliography 223 Index 231 [Illustration] ILLUSTRATIONS For the purpose of giving a vivid impression of the colorfulness of the Chinese stage, the publishers have imported from China four thousand paintings on silk, done by students of the Peking School of Fine Arts. They represent four of the standing character type of the Chinese stage, in their traditional make-ups. A General _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE A Scholar 52 A Demi-Mondaine 152 A Clown 206 Illustration by a Chinese artist for “The Chalk Circle” 28 Illustration by a Chinese artist for “The Chalk Circle” 32 Illustration by a Chinese artist. Tou-E before the judge 38 Illustration by a Chinese artist. Tou-E about to be beheaded 40 A Chinese artist’s conception of two pious souls 48 Warrior-acrobats 80 Amateur actors in an old-style Chinese play 110 Hu Shih 118 A typical Peking audience with the inevitable teapots 130 Orchestral instruments 146 Orchestral instruments 148 The actress Kin Feng-Kui in a male rôle 164 Mei Lan-fang in European dress, and in parts 176 “Burying the Blossoms” 180 The Fortune Theater 198 A typical Peking theater 198 The orchestra seated in a corner of the stage 202 THE CHINESE THEATER [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER ONE EARLY HISTORY