Chang Xiangyu(Chinese:Thường hương ngọc;pinyin:cháng xiāng yù) was aChinese operaactress who performed renditions of the story ofHua Mulanacross China in support of theKorean Warand who appeared in a 1956 screen adaption.[1]
Chang Xiangyu | |
|---|---|
 Chang in 1938 | |
| Born | 15 September 1923 Gongxian County,Henan, China |
| Died | 1 June 2004(aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
Biography
editChang was born in 1923 into a poor farming family inGongxian County,Henan. From an early age she was taught how to sing and performYu operaby her father Zhang Fuxian who feared she may become a child bride. At aged thirteen she appeared in a performance of the Chinese classicRomance of the Western Chamber(Tây Sương Ký) were afterwards she was given the title Queen of Yuju Opera. In 1944 she married a school headmaster, Chang Xianzhang who retired to help Chang in her career and to establish a school teaching Yu opera. The school which was called the Xiang Yu Opera Troupe opened in 1948 in the capital ofShaanxiXi'an.[2][3]
On the outbreak of theKorean War,Chang took part in live action performances ofMulanacross China to raise funds for a military plane. Along with other opera troops she eventually raised 1.52 billion yuan, enough for one plane. By 1956 theChinese Communist Partyhad banned all American films from being imported into China and nationalized the country's film studios so as to produce films with pro-party messages. To tout their gender egalitarian policies, a film aboutMulanwas made with Chang cast in the lead role.[4]
Later Chang got into politics and was elected to theNational People's Congressattending the first three session and then the fifth sixth and seventh. In 1995 she was awarded National Advanced Worker award for her contributions.[1]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Người hoan mã kêu | Wú dà niáng (Ngô đại nương) | [5] |
| 1956 | Hua Mulan | Mulan |
References
edit- ^abSong, Yuwu (2015).Biographical Dictionary of the People's Republic of China.McFarland. p. 28.ISBN9781476602981.
- ^"Chang Xiangyu".All-China Women's Federation.Retrieved6 November2017.
- ^"Master of Henan Opera: Chang Xiangyu".China Internet Information Center.Retrieved6 November2017.
- ^Liu, Ling Woo."China vs. Disney: The Battle for Mulan".Time.Retrieved6 November2017.
- ^"Đã chiếu tác phẩm"[Film Releases].MTime(in Chinese).