In the beginning, he trained to perform roles in wenxi (characters that only act and sing, without acrobatic and martial art skills). As his voice changed with puberty, he received training for roles in wuxi, specializing in martial art skills, the opposite of wenxi.
"I had no idea about my future as a Peking Opera actor. What if my voice was never suited to singing again, I thought, and decided to arm myself with more skills. I trained very hard to become a wuxi actor," he recalls.
Luckily, his voice "came back" and he began playing both roles, which made him stand out among his peers. After graduation in 1999, he was assigned to work with Fujian Peking Opera Company in Fujian province. He joined the National Peking Opera Company in 2013.
Before he turned 25, Tian had won almost all the top national honors in theater, including the Plum Performance Award and the Wenhua Award. He says he has witnessed the ups and downs of Peking Opera, from empty theaters to shows that sold out. "It is said that Peking Opera upholds the essence of Chinese culture. This is true because it is an art that integrates traditions, history and literature."
In July, Tian became the vice-president of the National Peking Opera Company. He rehearses daily from 7 am and sometimes, he walks into his office by 9 am, in a suit and a tie. "It is a new and different role for me. I am still adapting," he says.
Tian doesn't ever want to give up acting. In October, he will play the lead in the Peking Opera classic Qilin Mountain, which will have several martial art scenes. The opera is being revived after 40 years and Tian has been rehearsing his role for months.
"To work hard for something that you truly love is a great feeling," he says.
