本文以京劇大師程硯秋為例，分析他在政權更迭前後心態的轉變及其背後成因。民國時期的程硯秋，一心放在戲曲表演藝術及其改良，並未主動積極參與政治，對中共也沒什麼認識。中共建政後卻成為京劇界第一位加入共產黨的名伶。無論在當時或當今，許多官方或民間的論述之中，他常被視為中共建國初期戲曲界中「政治覺悟」或「政治意識」最高的大角。引人深思的是，為什麼1949年以後，他的「政治意識」突然大為提高？如果說他在政治上態度積極，是表現在什麼地方？什麼原因讓他對中共產生好感，也逐漸產生惡感？政治和藝術發生衝突的時候，他的底線在哪裡？本文從藝術與政治互動的關係切入，進而勾勒中共運用又拉又打的統戰手法，對待程硯秋這樣的大角。最能引起程硯秋共鳴的是中共戲曲改革的大方向，這和他自民國以來致力於京戲改良不謀而合。不幸的是，這中間有很大的誤區：兩者所用的名詞相同，精神、手段及目的卻大不相同。再者，本文說明了中共的統戰，手段可軟可硬。它並非傳統政治外交的縱橫捭闔，其目的是讓被統戰者屈服於黨的意志與領導，最後為共產黨所用。

This article uses the Peking Opera master, Cheng Yanqiu (1904-1958), as a case study to analyze the changes in his attitudes toward politics before and after 1949. Before 1949 Cheng Yanqiu only focused on stage performances and on improving Peking Opera. He did not actively participate in political activities and knew almost nothing about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, he was the first truly famous Peking Opera actor to join the Party. In the 1950s and even today many people considered that he possessed high ＂political consciousness.＂ It is an intriguing question why a person who had no interest in politics before 1949 suddenly became actively involved in political activities under Mao's regime. This article illustrates the factors that contributed to Cheng's good impression of the CCP and his gradual disillusionment, as well as his bottom line when art and politics ran into conflict. The Party's call for Chinese opera reform attracted Cheng Yanqiu very much. Unfortunately, he had misconceptions about the reform and the Party. Both Cheng and the CCP used the same term, but the spirit, the means, and the final goals of ＂reform＂ were very different. Also, this article explores the CCP's united front policy, which was instrumental in winning over important figures such as Cheng Yanqiu. In order to carry out its united front policy, the CCP could use very soft and tough strategies at the same time. In the end, those drawn into the united front were expected to surrender to the will and to the leadership of the CCP. This has been the ultimate goal of the party's united front policies.