Native name 章宗义 Years active 1936 - 2012 Parents Zhang Yisheng Grandchild Zhang Tong Tong | Nationality Chinese Died 31 January 2014 Children Liu Xiao Ling Tong | |
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Born March 16, 1924 (age 93) ( 1924-03-16 ) Shangyu District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China Occupation Shaoxing Opera actor, artist Organization Zhejiang Shaoxing Opera Theatre Notable work Sun Wukong in Pingdingshan
The Monkey King Thrice Defeats the Skeleton Demon
The Flaming Mountain
The Monkey King caused havoc in Heaven People also search for Liu Xiao Ling Tong, Yu Hong, Xiao Liu Ling Tong, Zhang Tong Tong Other names Liu Ling Tong (六龄童), Southern Monkey King (南猴王) | ||
Zhang zongyi china s monkey king performer dies at 90
Zhang Zongyi (simplified Chinese: 章宗义; traditional Chinese: 章宗義; pinyin: Zhāng Zōngyì; 16 March 1924 - 31 January 2014), better known by his stage name Liu Ling Tong (六龄童; literally: "Six Year Old Child") and famously known as "Nan Hou Wang" (南猴王; literally: "Southern Monkey King"), was a Chinese Shaoxing Opera actor and artist best known for his role as the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in Shaoxing Opera. He was president of the Zhejiang Shao Opera Theatre and a member of special government allowances of the State Council of Experts. He was a member of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
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Biography
Zhang was born on March 16, 1924 in Shangyu District of Shaoxing, Zhejiang in a family of performing artists. His grandfather, Zhang Tingchun (章廷椿), mostly performed in the countryside of Zhejiang under the stage name "Huo Hou Zhang" (活猴章). Zhang's father, Zhang Yisheng (章益生) with the stage name "Sai Huo Hou" (赛活猴; literally: "Better than a living monkey"). His elder brother, Zhang Zongxin (章宗信), who specialised in playing Zhu Bajie, had the stage name "Qi Ling Tong" (七龄童; literally: "Seven Year Old Child").
Zhang began his acting career at age 6 and made his acting debut at age 12.
After the founding of the Communist State, he was appointed president of the Zhejiang Shao Opera Troupe. In August 1956, Zhang performed The Monkey King caused havoc in Heaven for Vice Premier Chen Yi and Indonesian President Sukarno. On December 17, 1957, he performed The Monkey King caused havoc in Heaven again for Premier Zhou Enlai and Soviet guests at Shanghai Sino - Soviet Friendship Mansion. In 1961, he performed The Monkey King Thrice Defeats the Skeleton Demon for Mao Zedong, his performance was acclaimed by Mao. It was filmed as a color drama film, released in 72 countries and regions.
In 1966, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution, Zhang was labeled as a rightist, a capitalist roader, a reactionary scholar and a counter-revolutionary revisionist. The Red Guards took him into custody and put him under investigation. They paraded him through the streets and beat him in public. Finally, he was sent to countryside to a labour camp. In the fall of 1971, Mao Zedong toured in southern China and ordered him to be released. In 1974, Zhang returned to the public stage, he earned an Outstanding Performance Award in the 1st Zhejiang Drama Festival for his performance as Sun Wukong in The Flaming Mountain.
On January 31, 2014, he died of illness in Shaoxing, Zhejiang.
Drama work
Book
Personal life
Zhang had eleven sons. Zhang Jinlai, better known by his stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong (六小龄童; literally: "Little Six Year Old Child"), and Zhang Jinxing (章金星; 1959 - 1966), better known by his stage name "Xiao Liu Ling Tong" (小六龄童; literally: "Little Six Year Old Child", or "Six Year Old Child, Junior").