Chapter 88 87. Chang Xiangyu – a patriotic artist with both virtue and art

Chang Xiangyu (1923-2004), a performing artist of Henan Opera, was born in Gong County, Henan Province (now Gongyi City, Henan Province).Communist Party members.He was elected as the representative of the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh National People's Congresses. He is an honorary member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. He once served as the vice chairman of the Chinese Dramatists Association, the vice chairman of the Henan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the chairman of the Henan Provincial Dramatists Association. , Dean of Henan Yu Theater, Principal of Henan Opera School, Consultant of Henan Provincial Department of Culture, etc.; won the titles of National Model Worker, Honorary Award of the Ministry of Culture, and Outstanding Worker of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Chang Xiangyu was born on September 15, 1923 in Donggou, Gong County (now Gongyi City), Henan Province.Formerly known as Zhang Miaoling. At the age of 9, he studied opera with his father Zhang Fuxian. Later, he worshiped Zhai Yanshen and Zhou Haihui as his teachers and changed his name to Chang Xiangyu with his adoptive father's surname.His adoptive father's surname is Chang, he is straightforward and unrestrained, he likes drama the most and Xiang Yu the most.Therefore, Yi Miaoling was named Chang Xiangyu, and felt that this name was not suitable for women, so she changed it to Xiangyu.Jade, the meaning of elegance, purity, and solidity, the meaning of the surname and the first name are connected, which shows her persistent pursuit of art, and the flower of art must be undefeated; in life, she must be firm in principle, pure in heart, and as steadfast as jade. .Beginners in Xiaosheng, Xu Sheng, Wu Chou, and later specialized in Dan roles. He took the stage at the age of 10 and gathered in Danjiao.With the help of Mr. Wang Zhennan, he starred in six "West Chamber" at the age of 13 and became famous in Kaifeng.She originally studied Western Henan tunes, and later in her performances, she gradually merged the tunes of Eastern Henan and Xiangfu. first of its kind.Later, due to illness, he could no longer perform martial arts, so he devoted himself to studying the performing arts of Tsing Yi and Hua Dan.When the Japanese invaded China, she made her debut in the anti-Japanese fashion drama "Beat the Land", showing her national integrity as a patriotic artist.

In 1941, Chang Xiangyu went to Shaanxi and Gansu to perform. In 1948, he founded the Xiangyu Drama Club in Xi'an, dedicated to training young actors. In 1951, in order to support the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he led the drama club to perform in Northwest, Central South, and South China, and donated a "Xiangyu Opera Club" fighter jet with the proceeds from the performance, earning him the reputation of "Patriotic Artist". In 1952, he participated in the First National Opera Observation and Performance Conference and won an honorary award. In the same year, he went abroad to perform. In June 1994, he won the "Asia's Best Artist Lifetime Achievement Art Award". In 1995, he was awarded the title of "National Advanced Worker" by the State Council.She joined the Communist Party of China in 1959, and has successively served as vice-chairman of the Chinese Dramatists Association, vice-chairman of the Henan Branch, president of the Henan Yu Theater, principal of the Henan Opera School, and a representative of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th National People's Congresses. Died in Zhengzhou on June 1, 2004. On July 7, 2004, the State Council issued the "Decision of the State Council on Posthumously Awarding the Honorary Title of "People's Artist" to Comrade Chang Xiangyu, posthumously awarding the honorary title of "People's Artist" to Master Chang Xiangyu.

In June 1951, after the Chinese People's Association for Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea issued a call to the people of the whole country to donate aircraft, cannons, and tanks to the volunteers, the people of the whole country set off a vigorous upsurge of donating weapons, and people from all walks of life actively participated in the donation activities.Henan opera actress Chang Xiangyu and her "Xiangyu Opera Club" are determined to tour some big cities across the country to perform charity performances, and use the income from the performances to buy a fighter jet for the volunteers.For this reason, Chang Xiangyu sold one of her trucks and took out her savings for many years as funds for donating charity performances.In order not to affect performances in other places, Chang Xiangyu sent all three of her children (the oldest was less than 7 years old, and the youngest was just 3 years old) into the nursery.

On August 7, 1951, Chang Xiangyu led the staff of the drama club to set off from Xi'an, and conducted a six-month charity tour in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, Xinxiang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and Changsha, with more than 170 performances and more than 30 audiences million people.They are warmly welcomed by the people everywhere, and they have donated more than 500 million yuan (old currency) for their performances in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, and Xinxiang. In February 1952, Chang Xiangyu led the cast and crew of the company back to Xi'an successfully.The "Summary of Xiangyu Drama Club's Donation and Performance Work in the Half Year" that is now displayed in the "War Hall of Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea" is the true record of this donation performance, and it has become a powerful witness for Chang Xiangyu and Xiangyu Drama Club to donate aircraft to the volunteers.

After half a year of touring charity performances, Chang Xiangyu and Xiangyu Drama Club finally realized their wish to donate an aircraft to the volunteers. The plane was named "Chang Xiangyu Drama Club".The Air Force of the Chinese People's Volunteers drove the "Changxiang Yujushe" fighter jets through the clouds and fog over North Korea to fight against the US military and attack the aggressors. The activities of Chang Xiangyu and Xiangyu Theater Club donating charity performances for the volunteers had a huge impact across the country, and were well received by leaders at all levels and the people, who called them "patriotic entertainers" and "models of patriotism".The Volunteer Army Returning Delegation presented her with a pennant, and when Chang Xiangyu went to North Korea to condolences to the Volunteer Army on behalf of the people of the motherland, they presented her with bouquets of flowers to thank her for her contribution to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.Chang Xiangyu also performed for the volunteers on the North Korean front the most exciting program in the Xiangyu Opera Club's concert in Yiyi-the Henan opera "Mulan".