Shi Pei Pu

Shi Pei Pu (; 21 December 1938 – 30 June 2009) was a Chinese opera singer and spy. He obtained classified information from Bernard Boursicot, an employee at the French embassy, during a 20-year sexual relationship in which he convinced Boursicot that he was a woman. Shi also claimed to have a child, a Uyghur boy whom he insisted was the result of their relationship. The case drew significant media attention in France when the true circumstances were revealed.

The affair inspired American playwright David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly (1988), which was produced on Broadway and was adapted into the 1993 film of the same title.

Early life Shi's father was a college professor, and his mother was a teacher. He had two sisters who were significantly older than he was. Shi grew up in Kunming in the southwestern province of Yunnan, where he learned French and attended Yunnan University, graduating with a literature degree. By age 17, Shi had become an actor and singer who had achieved some recognition. In his 20s, Shi wrote plays and operas about workers.

After being discovered by the Chinese government, Boursicot was pressured into providing secret documents from his postings in Beijing from 1969 to 1972 and in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 1977 to 1979. He took more than 500 documents. Shi said that their purported son was a Uyghur from China's Xinjiang Province who was sold by his mother and adopted by Shi. Upon discovering the truth of their relationship, Boursicot attempted suicide by slitting his throat but survived. The public disclosure of the long-term affair made Boursicot the subject of widespread ridicule in France.

The affair inspired David Henry Hwang's 1988 play M. Butterfly. BD Wong played Song Liling, a Chinese opera singer and spy based on Shi Pei Pu, in the original Broadway production of the play.

Last years and death After his pardon, Shi returned to performing as an opera singer. He was reluctant to share the details of his relationship with Boursicot, stating that he "used to fascinate both men and women" and that "What I was and what they were didn't matter." Shi spoke infrequently with Boursicot over the subsequent years. However, in the months before Shi's death, he told Boursicot that he still loved him.

Shi was said to be 70 years old when he died on 30 June 2009, in Paris. Shi is survived by his adopted son, Shi Du Du, who later fathered three sons of his own. Notified at a French nursing home of Shi's death, Boursicot said, "He did so many things against me that he had no pity for; I think it is stupid to play another game now and say I am sad. The plate is clean now. I am free."