Xiao Changhua

Xiao Changhua

Xiao Changhua (1878-1967), whose ancestral home is Xinjian, Jiangxi Province, and whose ancestral home is Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, was born in Beijing. He is a famous Peking Opera clown performing artist and outstanding opera educator. From 1904 to 1940, he taught in xiliancheng (fuliancheng) class for 36 years. After the founding of the people's Republic of China, he has been teaching in the Chinese opera school. His moral character is enough for future generations to learn. In his teaching career of more than 60 years, he had thousands of apprentices, trained a number of outstanding opera talents, and spread all over the country. He never took in his disciples in private. Other famous actors, such as Sheng, Dan, Jing, Wu Sheng, Xiao Sheng, Lao Dan and Wu Dan, were also trained by Xiao.

Xiao Changhua is a famous clown in Peking opera after the famous clowns Huang Sanxiong, Yang Mingyu and Liu Gansan in the late Qing Dynasty. He is known as the source of all kinds of ugly dramas.

Life of the characters

Xiao Changhua, also known as Baoming, is called Hezhuang. He was born in Xinjian, Jiangxi Province, and his ancestors came from Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. He was born on December 1, 1878 (the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty) in a pear garden family in Beijing. Xiao Changhua was influenced by art as a child. At the age of 9, he studied in Qingyun bookstore, Baihuayuan, east gate of Liulichang, Beijing, and got a good cultural enlightenment education. At the age of 11, he joined the family of Xu Wenbo (the grandfather of Xu Lanyuan, a famous contemporary opera musician). After entering the school, he named himself "Baoming" and studied laodan and Wenchou under the guidance of Cao Wenkui, Zhou Changshun and Yu Yunpeng At the age of 18, he was taught by song Wantai, a famous clown. Song had been a partner of Su Chou Yang Mingyu in "Tongguang thirteen Jue" for more than 30 years. He was proficient in all Clowns' plays, while Xiao Changhua was proficient in all kinds of plays, which laid a solid foundation for him to embark on the road of art. When Xiao Changhua was 25 years old, he took the Yucheng troupe to perform on the same stage with Xiang jiuxiao (Tian Jiyun), shisandan (Hou Junshan), daffodils (Guo Jixiang), Wang Lingxian, Li Jirui, Yang Xiaoduo, Jin Xiushan, etc. he was highly praised by Wang Lingxian, the "living Zhou Yu". He helped him to perform Jiang Gan in the group of heroes meeting, and received unanimous praise from both inside and outside. Xiaoda Tongqing class is highly valued by Tan Xinpei. He played the roles of Tang Qin in Shen tou CI Tang, he Shi in Qing Feng Ting, and Wang laohao in Qin Qiong selling horses. Since then, his reputation has become increasingly prominent. In the long years of stage training, he is determined to make progress, rigorous and meticulous. He never plays with the audience, and plays a foil role, which is highly valued by famous artists. He also took advantage of this opportunity to observe the profound skills of the masters, from which he understood the essence of drama and constantly enriched himself. He set up Chenghua society in 1922 and cooperated with Mei Lanfang for 30 years. After the July 7 Incident, Zeng Zuo, Xu Biyun, Shang Xiaoyun, Xiao Cuihua, Ma Lianliang, Meng Xiaodong, Jin Shaoshan, Tan Fuying, Xi Xiaobo, Yan Huizhu, Zhang Junqiu and many other actors, were highly respected in the Peking Opera circle. In 1939, the Beijing Opera Promotion Association hosted a "clown conference". That night, five clowns appeared on the stage. The first four were performed by Cao ergeng, ye Shengzhang, Jia Shizhen and other famous clowns, while the fifth axis was performed by 62 year old Xiao Changhua in Dang paste boat, which shows that he is in the leading position of clowns. during the Anti Japanese War, he and Mei Lanfang held a charity performance in Taihe, Jiangxi Province. All the money they got was donated to the Anti Japanese War and the relief of the poor people. After the founding of the people's Republic of China, Xiao Changhua was the first to apply for a position as a professor, vice president and President of the Chinese opera school. In late September 1953, he went to North Korea with Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun and other famous Peking opera performers. In 1956, Xiao Changhua was the artistic director, and the Peking Opera masters Ye Shenglan, Tan Fuying, Ma Lianliang, Xiao Changhua, Qiu Shengrong, Yuan Shihai, etc., who were cultivated by fuliancheng society, were the leading actors in the film version of Qunying Hui. In 1967, Xiao Changhua died at the age of 89. His son, Xiao Shengxuan, a student of Fu Liancheng, is also an ugly artist. Sun Xiao runzeng is an old student of Qi school, and Runde is a famous little student.

artistic characteristics

Xiao Changhua's voice is clear, clear and fluent, and his words are clear and lively. He expresses his feelings in the light and heavy illness, and is full of music and charm. Yougong's Yunbai is also known as Su Bai in dialect. His style is delicate, concise, flexible and generous. His performance is good at observing life, figuring out the character's temperament, psychology and manner, and trying to convey spirit with form. He paid attention to the propriety, proper retraction and Appropriateness. He did not make a fuss with his superficial and vulgar performance. Instead, he was witty and reserved, witty and refined, and won by being cool and humorous. He is good at "square towel ugliness". His performance of Jiang Gan is a tactful but not stupid, sour but not flattering, gentle and Confucianist counselor. He plays Tang Qin, a snobbish and ungrateful man. Although he has elegant manners, he is cunning, frivolous, despicable and detestable.

Anecdotes of characters

Brilliant stage

Born in a family of opera

Xiao Changhua, born in Beijing, is a modern opera performance artist and Beijing Opera educator. His uncle Yongshou, with the stage name of Xiaolan, was a famous Kundan in the same period of Xian and Qing Dynasties; his father Yongkang, with the stage name of zhenkui, was a famous clown actor in the same period as Cheng Changgeng, Lu Shengkui and Yang yuelou. Xiao Changhua is familiar with all kinds of characters in Peking Opera, especially the "square scarf clown". He has successfully created a large number of artistic images of clowns on the stage of Peking Opera, such as Jiang Gan in the meeting of heroes, Tang Qin in shentouci soup, Zhang Wenyuan in wulongyuan, and so on.

One of the "three evildoers"

Xiao Changhua's voice is loud and sonorous. He occasionally sings a large part of it, which can be combined with the strengths of Changgeng, Wang Guifen and sun Juxian. His going out, both Cheng and Wang are good at "Hui Yun", and sun's "powerful row, lingering sound.". Clown's recitation is more important than singing. Xiao Changhua has made great efforts in this aspect. Recitation is not only broad and clear, but also has a sharp voice. He especially likes to study history, so he can get his art and Science in every sentence. Listening to his words is like reading classic books. His figure is also very beautiful. Because of his profound artistic attainments, Xiao Changhua is well-known throughout the country. Together with CI Ruijin and Guo Chunshan, he is known as the "three evildoers".

Tie up with Mei Lanfang

Long term cooperation, cultivate a high degree of tacit understanding

In 1922, Xiao Changhua was invited to cooperate with Mei Lanfang and became a long-term stage partner with him. Xiao Changhua plays the main clowns in Mei Lanfang's plays such as nvqijie, drunken Princess and farewell my concubine. Long term co-operation, so that the two cultivate a high degree of tacit understanding.

They came to Jiangxi for a benefit performance together

Mei and Xiao cooperated not only in art, but also in fighting against the enemy and saving the country. During the Anti Japanese War, Mei Lanfang and Xiao Changhua went to Jiangxi together. At that time, in Taihe County, Mei Lanfang, Xiao Changhua and other members of the Jiangxi provincial government held a benefit performance in Taihe. All the money they got was donated to the Anti Japanese War and the relief of the poor people. In addition, in late September 1953, Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun, Xiao Changhua and other famous Peking Opera actors also went to North Korea to perform together. The plays performed by Mei Lanfang and Xiao Changhua are welcomed by the soldiers in front of them.

Mei Lanfang praises Xiao Changhua to Chaplin

In early 1930, Mei Lanfang led the troupe to visit and perform in six major cities in the United States. In Los Angeles, Mei Lanfang met with Chaplin and they talked about drama together. Chaplin specially inquired about the performing skills of the clowns in Beijing opera. Mei Lanfang told Chaplin that the clowns in Beijing opera are very important and have a high artistic content. Among his predecessors, Mr. Xiao Changhua, a well-known clown, has learned a lot from him.

have pupils everywhere

Build the largest scientific and technological class in Beijing

In 1904, at the invitation of Ye Chunshan, Xiao Changhua became the general teacher of the "Xi Liancheng" class. Most actors disdain to devote themselves to teaching at that time, but Xiao Changhua abandons secular prejudice and gladly undertakes this important task. In order to devote himself to teaching, Xiao Changhua even quit class and stopped acting for eight years. Thanks to their unremitting efforts, "Xi Liancheng" (later changed to "Fu Liancheng") has become the largest, longest history and most talented class in Beijing.

Persuade Ye Shenglan to study Xiaosheng

In the section class, Xiao Changhua teaches in all walks of life. With his rich experience and sagacious insight, he recognized many materials that could be made. According to the situation at that time, he advised Ye Shenglan to develop her strong points, avoid her disadvantages, and abandon her study. Therefore, Xiao Changhua sent Ye Shenglan to study Yue Yun in Yuejiazhuang and changed to Xiaosheng. Yuan Shihai, another famous Peking Opera actor, was originally a veteran. According to his figure, look and temperament, Xiao Changhua thought it was more appropriate for him to study Hualian instead. So Xiao Changhua decided to take Yuan Shi to Hualian Group to practice and learn Hualian.

President of Chinese Opera School

After the founding of the people's Republic of China, Xiao Changhua was over sixty years old, but he was full of energy and confidence. He was the first to apply to the Chinese opera school as a teacher, and successively held the posts of Professor, vice president and president. He teaches drama, from the beginning of recitation to the performance, is responsible for the end, performing in person backstage. He arranges "the meeting of the heroes" and "take Nanjun", with 60 or 70 characters in each play, all rehearsed by himself. For more than ten years, he not only insisted on going to school to give students extra-curricular education, but also received students at home. Usually, he was backstage, in the car, and at any time, he also talked to students. His teaching spirit has become a model for all teachers and students in the school. In the field of Chinese opera, Xiao Changhua is a model of later generations and enjoys a high status.

Main contributions

In eighty years

Chinese PinYin : Xiao Zhang Hua