Speaking of Chang Xiangyu

Author: Zhang Xiangpu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-08-01
Features: "Liu Daoge Speaking Makes Too Much Sense" Chang Xiangyu became famous in the art world with her Henan Opera The Flower, making a small rural play a renowned major opera genre, sung across the land. Author Zhang Xiangpu is the compiler of the TV series Chang Xiangyu, and this book records the legendary life of Chang Xiangyu: growing up begging for food since childhood, learning acting from her father at the age of 9, achieving fame in Kaifeng at 12, her love story with Chen Xianzhang, establishing the "Disaster-Child Troupe" and "Xiangyu Opera School." Chang Xiangyu was born on September 15, 1923, in Gongxian County, Henan Province (now Gongyi City). Her original name was Zhang Miaoling. At the age of 9, she learned acting from her father Zhang Fuxian and later became a disciple of Zhai Yanshen and Zhou Haishui, studying various roles such as flower, young scholar, and martial roles. She went on stage at the age of 10, specializing in the role. With the help of Mr. Wang Zhennan, she starred in six The West Chamber productions at the age of 13, gaining fame in Kaifeng. Originally trained in the Xuyi tune, she gradually blended the Xudong and Xiangfu tunes in her performances, widely absorbing the strengths of various schools and sister opera genres, boldly innovating, and pioneering the reform of Henan Opera's singing style. Later, due to illness, she could no longer perform martial roles and devoted herself to mastering the performance arts of the qingyi and flower. During the Japanese invasion of China, she premiered the anti-war costume drama Beating the Land God, demonstrating the national spirit of a patriotic artist. In 1938, she traveled westward to Chang'an and gained widespread fame in Shaanxi and Gansu, earning the title "Queen of Henan Opera." In 1948, she founded the Xiangyu Opera School in Xi'an, dedicated to training young actors, which was later converted into the Xiangyu Opera Troupe. In 1951, to support the "Anti-American War," she led the troupe on a six-month tour of northwest and central China, raising funds to donate a fighter jet named "Xiangyu Troupe Number." She was awarded by the China People's Anti-American War Committee and the Cultural Department of the Northwest Military and Political Commission. In 1952, she participated in the National Opera Observation and Performance Conference, winning the honor award for The Flower. That same year, she attended the World Peace Conference in Vienna and visited countries such as the Soviet Union and Hungary. In 1953, she led the troupe to North Korea for a six-month performance to comfort the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and the Korean People's Army; in 1954, she performed for border guards in the Tianshan Mountains and the ethnic groups of Xinjiang for four months. Especially in 1979, during the Vietnam War, Chang Xiangyu's voice echoed across the Guangxi border. In December 1987, she self-funded 220,000 yuan to establish the "Xiangyu Cup Art Award" to encourage outstanding talents in Henan local opera. Over her 70 years in the arts, Chang Xiangyu has always shown a passionate pursuit of art. Her singing style is expansive, unrestrained, and versatile, reaching a high level of aesthetic realm and artistic achievement. Her performances are robust, fresh, delicate, and unrestrained, forming the widely recognized "Chang School" style. Her masterpiece The Flower was filmed as an opera film as early as 1956. Other representative works include The Red Detachment of Women, The Flower, The Broken Bridge, The Great Sacrifice Stake, The Five Generations Requesting the Banner, and the modern drama The Red Detachment of Women. In 1956, she served as the president of the Henan Opera Theater. In the early 1980s of the 20th century, she also served as the president of the Henan Provincial Drama School, vice president of the China Theatre Association, president of the Henan Provincial Theatre Association, and advisor to the Henan Provincial Department of Culture. She is recognized as a master of Henan Opera in the opera world. After the renowned Henan Opera performer Chang Xiangyu passed away on June 1, countless people were filled with sorrow. Chang Xiangyu was not just an opera artist; she was also a playwright. She created the "Chang School" style in opera, trained a large number of disciples, and developed traditional art in Henan Opera while inheriting it. Even more admirable is that she loved her country and her audience throughout her life. During the Anti-American War, she donated a fighter jet named "Xiangyu Troupe Number" with the proceeds from her performances, earning the title "Patriotic Artist." The content of this book is compiled based on her recorded conversations, serving as the best tribute to this "Queen of Henan Opera."