Liu Gansan
Peking opera artist
About Liu Gansan
Lived 1817 – 1894 (aged 77). Liu Gansan was a Chinese peking opera actor and peking opera, known for Chou role.
Liu Baoshan (8 August 1817 – 10 August 1894), better known by his stage name Liu Gansan, was a Qing dynasty Peking opera artist based in Beijing, who specialized in Chou roles, or clowns. He was well known for playing ugly women and making ad-lib comments in his roles to poke fun at the powerful. He was from Tianjin.
Once, when he was performing in the Forbidden Palace before Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor, he made a joke to remind the empress dowager that the emperor was standing without a seat. On another occasion, he ridiculed Prince Dun, Prince Gong, and Prince Chun. He received a beating because of it.
In popular culture Actor Xia Yu starred as Liu Gansan in the 2002 comedy TV series The Best Clown Under Heaven (天下第一丑).
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Liu Gansan?
peking opera artist (1817–1894)
When was Liu Gansan born?
Liu Gansan was born on 8 August 1817 in Tianjin.
When did Liu Gansan die?
Liu Gansan died on 10 August 1894 in Beijing, Qing dynasty, Zhili.
What was Liu Gansan's occupation?
Liu Gansan was a peking opera actor and peking opera.
What was Liu Gansan known for?
Liu Gansan was known for Chou role.
What nationality was Liu Gansan?
Liu Gansan was Chinese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Liu Gansan. https://biography.guide/liu-gansan/
MLA: "Liu Gansan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/liu-gansan/.
Chicago: "Liu Gansan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/liu-gansan/.
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