Fu Yu (actor)
Fu Yu () was a Chinese "zaju" actor of the Ming dynasty, who performed in Nanjing during the second half of the 16th century. Career. Fu Yu was a member of the Nanjing-based commercial troupe led by the actor Hao Kecheng (). When he was young, he was "exceedingly beautiful" and rose to fame by playing "dan" (women) roles. In his 20s, he switched to playing "sheng" (young male) roles, and after age 40, "wai" (older male) roles. He became a trainer of the troupe but did not quit the stage. When the theatre critic Pan Zhiheng saw  him in his old age, he remarked on the veteran's "dignified" poise and "resounding" voice. Children. Fu Yu and his wife, née Chen (), had a boy named Fu Mao () and a girl named Fu Shou (, courtesy name Lingxiu ). Trained by their father, the siblings began performing as young teens to great acclaim. Fu Shou, who was skilled in both the northern tune ("beiqu") of "zaju" and the southern tune of the young "kunqu", was highly popular when she later became a courtesan-actress. Fu Mao possibly played "dan" roles initially before switching to "sheng" roles like his father. Fu