Tianjin’s renowned young Jingju actress Liu Guijuan, known for her role as Chengpaing Qingyi (Zhengdan), had two scheduled performances in Nanjing, Jiangsu yesterday (29th) and today, but they were “canceled for reasons,” according to reports. It was rumored online that the cancellations were due to her past social media posts that mocked the deceased leader of the Chinese Communist Party Mao Zedong and Lei Feng, and posted a photo with the caption “Cover the dog with the blood flag,” which led to her being reported. Comments on Weibo mostly ridiculed and criticized Liu Guijuan, although some also felt that she was unlucky.
The Tianjin Youth Jingju Troupe and the Jiangsu Purple Gold Grand Theater jointly announced on the 27th: “Dear audience friends: We regret to inform you that the scheduled performances of Jingju ‘Spring in the Jade Pavilion’ and ‘Princess Returning to Han’ at the Jiangsu Purple Gold Grand Theater on November 29th and 30th, 2024, at 19:30 have been canceled. For ticket refund inquiries, please contact the original channel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you!”
The announcement did not specify the reason for the suspension of the performances.
Public records show that 59-year-old Liu Guijuan is from Tianjin, a well-known young Jingju actress in the Chengpai style, a member of the Tianjin Youth Jingju Troupe, a national first-class actress, and a recipient of the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award. Liu Guijuan played the leading role in “Spring in the Jade Pavilion” and “Princess Returning to Han.”
The suspension in Jiangsu may be related to Liu Guijuan’s being reported, as online users unearthed multiple screenshots of Liu Guijuan’s personal Weibo account, where she made numerous derogatory comments about Lei Feng and tarnished the reputation of “teacher” (Mao Zedong).
On the opening day of the National People’s Congress on March 5, 2022, Liu Guijuan posted a message: “The hotels are full, the restaurants are full, the clubs are full, the massage parlors are full, the dance halls are full, the mansions are full, the gifts are full, the shopping malls are thriving, the streets are isolated, the cars are yielding the road, and today you want me to learn from Lei Feng! Can I learn from Lei Feng taking photos at Tian’anmen Square?”
In a post on July 13, 2013, she said: “A person who often angers others but is not easily angered themselves is called a great person, like Mao Zedong.”
She also once shared a post with a picture of a sleeping dog covered by the Communist Party’s blood flag.
Comments on Weibo mentioned: “Her performances have been normal in recent years. It’s unclear why her shows in Nanjing were canceled this time. Could it be that her malicious remarks from years ago were exposed?”
A netizen responded: “Yes. It is understood that her online quarrel with several Messi fans around October resulted in a heated argument, and this incident should be the work of those fans.”
Many comments on Weibo are blaming Liu Guijuan, saying “she deserves it.” However, some comments believe that she has been unfairly targeted, as one expressed: “Liu Guijuan didn’t say anything significant. Are people not allowed to speak now?”
“Liu Guijuan probably doesn’t even know who she offended again, and this is how they are dealing with her. As unrelated netizens, don’t be used as a weapon by others.”
“Liu Guijuan was born in the wrong era. She should have been born in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Only that era suits her.”
In April 2018, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the Communist Party of China passed the Heroic Martyrs Protection Law, and on March 1, 2021, the Communist Party of China’s Criminal Law Amendment came into effect, officially criminalizing “violations of the reputation and honor of martyrs.” The Xi Jinping regime has used this to strengthen control over the speech of domestic dissidents and public intellectuals, sparking criticism from the international community.