Master Tang is a benevolent and devout Buddhist who sincerely believes in the faith. When her mother fell ill when she was young, she vowed to be a vegetarian and pray for her mother’s health, and has persisted for over 30 years to this day. Master Tang integrates her Buddhist beliefs into her lifelong dedication to traditional opera, naturally and without affectation, allowing the two beloved fields to cross over and collide to create brilliant sparks. Not only does she directly present Buddhist themes in the annual large-scale productions, but she also frequently leads her team to perform Buddhist stories that promote good over evil, filial piety, and giving during local temple festivals and the traditional auspicious month in Taiwan. She even collaborates with Tzu Chi’s Da Ai TV to produce TV drama series such as ” The Meditative Mind of Bodhi” and ” Biography of Eminent Monks “, faithfully interpreting the fables and great deeds of ancient monks in the form of Taiwanese opera.

To perfectly embody the image of the high-ranking monks, Master Tang believed that wearing a head covering was not solemn or sincere enough, so she was willing to cut off her most important asset as a female performer – her hair. Since playing the role of high-ranking monks, she has always kept her head shaved. These examples demonstrate Master Tang ‘s wholehearted dedication to expressing her devotion to Buddhism and pursuing her passion for the traditional Taiwanese opera.

Introduction of Master Tang Meiyun

Master Tang is the leader and artistic director of Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company, a recipient of the National Cultural Award and National Arts Award from the Executive Yuan. She is a top representative of refined Taiwanese opera and cross-disciplinary innovation in Taiwan. She has been active in the fields of traditional opera, film, television, and radio. With the philosophy of “Inheriting tradition and fostering innovation “, she has led her team to win numerous Golden Melody Awards and was selected as a “Taiwan Brand Team” by the Ministry of Culture. Her TV drama ” Tavern by the Lethe ” also won the Golden Bell Award for Program Innovation. She is committed to deepening the roots of traditional opera in Taiwan and promoting its international development.

Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company has entered its 25^th year with its head held high and has always aimed at the idea of “inheriting tradition and fostering innovation.” The company is committed to elevating traditional opera to the level of fine art. This who-else-but-me sense of mission drives the troupe to actively engage in cross-boundary cooperation and the cultivation of talents. Through joint performance with senior and outstanding actors from different fields, the troupe hopes to transform the public stereotype of Taiwanese opera with various ingenuity and creativity, and attract the old, middle, and young generations to let the prosperity of Taiwanese opera reappear.

The troupe creates one to two large-scale new plays on a yearly basis and was selected as one of the teams in the support and subsidies program of the Ministry of Culture every year ever since the third year of establishment. From 2019 to 2023, the troupe was even selected into the “Taiwan Brand Team Program,” becoming an art brand that represents Taiwan.

“Paying back to the society with Taiwanese Opera culture” is the troupe’s original intention when it was first established. In addition to enriching and preserving the beautiful and elegant traditional culture, the troupe has also integrated Eastern orchestral music and Western symphonies to establish with much success a new cultural benchmark in opera culture. At the same time, the troupe explores deep into campuses, communities, and religious festivals in towns and villages around Taiwan.

The troupe even visited China, the United States, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and other places for international cultural exchanges, and has gone even farther to Japan, South Korea, and Cambodia to shoot on location. All efforts were made to achieve the troupe’s self-expectation—being with the audience, walking with the times, and striving for excellence, so that the artistic treasure of traditional opera can be deeply rooted in Taiwan and bloom on the international stage.