Zhou Xinfang (14 January 1895–8 March 1975, courtesy name Shichu) was a celebrated Peking opera actor who specialized in laosheng roles and founded the influential Qi school. He was born in Qingjiangpu (Jiangsu Province), into a family that had migrated from Cixi (Zhejiang Province). Because he debuted on stage at the age of seven, his first stage name was Qi Lingtong (seven-year-old child), which was later changed to Qi Lintong (unicorn boy). Over his decades-long career, Zhou created a distinctive style of his own. For example, his recitals were rhythmic and full of cadence and verve—mellow yet powerful, passionate yet controlled—as he attempted to convey every nuance of the emotion of his role. His performance always brought a character to life, as evidenced in his depictions of impressive characters with distinct personalities, such as Song Shijie, Xu Ce, Xiao He, Song Jiang, Zou Yinglong, Zhang Guangcai, and Zhang Yuanxiu. These accomplishments laid the foundation for his Qi school, which features bold and energetic performance. The school has influenced not only the performance of laosheng roles in Peking opera, but also the performance of other roles and even other forms of Chinese opera.
