梨园 traces to Tang Emperor Xuanzong (
唐玄宗, r. 712-756), who personally trained a troupe of 300 musicians in a pear orchard (
梨园) at Chang'an — China's first formal conservatory. Since then
梨园/
梨园弟子 has meant 'the opera world / opera performers,' and
梨园行 is the trade itself.
