Chinese qinqiang actor of the Qing dynasty
Wei Changsheng (, 1744–1802), courtesy name Wanqing (), also known as Wei San (), was a Chinese "qinqiang" ("bangzi" opera) actor of the Qing dynasty who played "huadan" roles (i.e. he impersonated bubbly young women). In 1779, during his second trip to Beijing, he created such a sensation that theatregoers flocked to his performances away from "gaoqiang" (preferred by commoners) and "kunqu" (preferred by Qing emperors), thereby permanently changing the landscape of Chinese opera. In order to curb the craze (and also because Wei's performances were often obscene) the Qing government expelled him and "qinqiang" from Beijing in 1785. He went south to perform "kunqu" in Yangzhou, but many of his innovations and art remained in the capital and were absorbed by Peking opera several decades later.
Wei Changsheng had a reputation for being immoral, and likely had a homosexual relationship with Heshen, the most influential politician of the time.
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