Du Fu painted by Jiang Zhaohe [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Their spirits stood out in last century, when old and new values and morals collided with each other," he said. "They connected their personal destiny with that of our entire country. Their stories encourage us to enhance cultural self-confidence today."

Lan Tianye, 90, a veteran stage actor and former student of several of the masters on the list, is interviewed in the documentary.

"The project preserves people's memory of them," Lan said. "I was lucky to have close connections with several masters. However, living people who once had contact with these masters are getting fewer and fewer."