One is Guan Gong and the other is Zhao Kuangyin. There are only two roles known as Hongsheng. Hongsheng meant the character had a red face, a sub-category of Laosheng. Yan Jupeng, Ma Lianliang, Zhou Xinfang were also well-known performers of Laosheng role after Tan Xinpei.

Many Laosheng actors imitated his way of performing.

He opened a new world of opera performance for Laosheng roles. The most famous performer of Laosheng role was Tan Xinpei. Officials and land owners were included in this category. The voice of a Laosheng character had to be gentle and firm. The costumes had a quieter and more uniform color than that of warriors who had a painted-face.

They wore a black hat with tow fins on both sides, which varied in shape based on the role’s status. Laosheng characters had a black or white beard, depending on the role’s age. Laosheng roles included generals or high-ranking officers of the military, but they had a more cultivated disposition than those of real life. Laosheng actors are required to attain the dignity of bearing and gentle, polished manners of the middle-aged mandarin official or scholar. This role has several subtypes according to the character’s age, personality and status, which has Laosheng (Senior Male Role), Hongsheng (Middle-age male), Xiaosheng (handsome young male role specializing in song and recitation), Wusheng (Acrobatic Male Role), and Wawasheng (a child role).

Peking opera headdress