Liu Xiao Ling Tong

Zhang Jinlai (simplified Chinese: 章金莱; traditional Chinese: 章金萊; pinyin: Zhāng Jīnlái; born 12 April 1959), better known by his stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong (六小龄童; 'Little Six Year Old Child'), is a Chinese actor, best known for his role as the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in the 1986 television series Journey to the West (Chinese: 西游记; pinyin: Xī Yóu Jì) adapted from the classic Chinese novel of the same name. Zhang adopted his father Zhang Zongyi's stage name, Liu Ling Tong, and amended it to Liu Xiao Ling Tong.[1]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.
Liu Xiao Ling Tong
Liu Xiao Ling Tong on Star Reunion in 2014.
Born
Zhang Jinlai (章金莱)

(1959-04-12) 12 April 1959
Shanghai, China
Alma materArt School of Zhejiang Kunju Opera Troupe
OccupationActor
Years active1965–present
Spouse(s)
Yu Hong
​
(m. 1988)​
ChildrenZhang Tongtong (daughter)
Parent(s)Zhang Zongyi (father)
Yan Chagu (mother)
AwardsGolden Eagle Award for Best Actor (1988)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese六小齡童
Simplified Chinese六小龄童

His compelling performance in Journey to the West was greatly praised by critics and helped him win the Best Actor award at the sixth Golden Eagle Awards in 1988. On Sept 27, 2006, he was conferred the Certificate of Mouthpiece of the 3rd International Forum of the China Cultural Industry.[1]

In recent years, Zhang has made great efforts promoting Sun Wukong in popular culture, which contributed to increasing the popularity of both the classic novel and the character around the world.[1]

Early life and family

Zhang was born on April 12, 1959 in Shanghai, in a family of performing artists. His family members, who are Peking opera actors, specialized in playing the role of the Monkey King (Sun Wukong), the protagonist of the classical novel Journey to the West. Zhang's great-grandfather, Zhang Tingchun (章廷椿), was even considered "better than a living Monkey King".[2] Zhang Tingchun mostly performed in the countryside of Zhejiang under the stage name "Huo Hou Zhang" (活猴章).[3]

Zhang's grandfather, Zhang Yisheng (章益生), had the stage name "Sai Huo Hou" (赛活猴; 賽活猴; Sài Huó Hóu; 'Better than a living monkey').[3] Zhang Yisheng moved from Peking to Shanghai and trained his two sons. Zhang's father, Zhang Zongyi, whose stage name was "Liu Ling Tong" (六龄童; 六齡童; Liù Líng Tóng; 'Six Year Old Child'), was famously known as "Nan Hou Wang" (南猴王; Nán Hóu Wáng; 'Southern Monkey King'). Zhang Zongyi's stage name indicated his age when he started performing. His performance was acclaimed by Chinese leaders, including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. His specialty was Sun Wukong, gaining him the nickname "Monkey King of the South"; another actor, Li Wanchun, was better known in northern China.

Zhang's uncle, who specialized in playing Zhu Bajie, had the stage name "Qi Ling Tong" (七龄童; 七齡童; Qī Líng Tóng; 'Seven Year Old Child'). Zhang's elder brother used the stage name "Xiao Liu Ling Tong" (小六龄童; 小六齡童; Xiǎo Liù Líng Tóng), which means "Little Six Year Old Child", or "Six Year Old Child, Junior". The role of Sun Wukong was originally offered to Zhang's elder brother, but because his brother died of leukemia in 1966, Zhang inherited his father's legacy instead.[4] He changed his stage name slightly, to "Liu Xiao Ling Tong", which still means "Little Six Year Old Child".

As a dedication to the memory of his elder brother, Zhang put great effort into playing the role of Sun Wukong well. He also helped people affected by leukemia. In 1992, China Central Television produced an eight-episode television series titled Hou Wa (猴娃; 'monkey child') about Zhang's life.[5]

Career

Zhang gained international fame for his starring role as the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in the 1986 television series Journey to the West, adapted from the classic Chinese novel of the same title. Zhang's compelling performance, which was greatly praised by critics, helped him win the Best Actor award at the 6th Golden Eagle Awards in 1988.[2] After that, he also appeared in other films and television series, such as New Year's Day (《过年》). On September 27, 2006, he was conferred the Certificate of Mouthpiece of the 3rd International Forum of the China Cultural Industry.[6]

Zhang reprised his role as Sun Wukong in Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West, a 2010 television series about Wu Cheng'en—the author of Journey to the West—and his inspiration for writing the novel. Zhang also simultaneously portrayed Wu Cheng'en.[7]

Filmography

Film
Year English Title Chinese Title Role Notes Ref.
1981 The True Story of Ah Q 阿Q正传 The revolutionist
1991 At Love-Corner in Weekend 周末恋爱角 Du Dachuan
1991 New Year's Day 过年 Cheng Zhi
1991 The Extra 喜剧明星 The journalist
1992 Good Luck 祝你好运 Director Zhang
1994 青春的忏悔 The doctor
2017 Buddies in India 大闹天竺 Wu Shen [8]
TBA 一带一路·重走玄奘路 Xuanzang
Himself		 Also director [9]
TBA Miser 财迷 Mr. Hao
TBA Journey to the West 3D 敢问路在何方 Sun Wukong

Television
YearEnglish TitleChinese titleRoleNotes
1986Journey to the West《西游记》Sun Wukong
1993Monkey Child《猴娃》Liu Lingtong
1994《大上海屋檐下》Yan Shipeng
1997《双筒望远镜》Father
2000《追踪309》Luo Dapeng
《1939·恩来回故里》Zhou Enlai
Journey to the West《西游记续集》Sun Wukong
2001The Pearl King《义海风云》Li Zhengping
2002《某年某月某一天》The doctor
2004The Story Of Three loves《啼笑姻缘》Guan Shoufeng
2005Lian Cheng Jue (A Deadly Secret)《连城诀》Hua Tiegan
The Delighted Seven Fairies《欢天喜地七仙女》Taishang Laojun
2006Xun Huisheng《荀慧生》Wang Yaoqing
2007Legend of He Long《贺龙传奇》Zhou Enlai
2009War and Peace over Peking《北平战与和》Hu Shih
2010Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West《吴承恩与西游记》Wu Cheng'en
2013Chivalous Robber Lee-San《新燕子李三》Li Xian
2015Dare Stone Male Tiandong 《石敢当之雄峙天东》Jade Emperor

Personal life

Views

Zhang's activities mainly focus on promoting Sun Wukong in popular culture.[2][10] Zhang expressed his concern over more contemporary Sun Wukong portrayals. While Zhang stated that he was happy to see Journey to the West, as well as other Chinese classical novels, receiving increased attention from foreign directors, he emphasized that "such adaptation has to be based on adequate knowledge of Chinese culture" and that "the Monkey King is not King Kong".[11] Zhang believes that Goku from Dragon Ball does not portray the Chinese style of Sun Wukong.[12][13]

Awards
YearNominated workAwardResultNotes
1988Journey to the West6th Golden Eagle Television Awards: Best ActorWon
1994Monkey Child12th Golden Eagle Television Awards: Best Supporting ActorWon

References
  1. "Liu Xiao Ling Tong Introduction". Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. Liu Xiao Ling Tong-- the "Monkey King". Dandan. crienglish.com. Retrieved on May 22, 2008.
  3. 六小龄童是电视剧里演得最好的猴子 (in Chinese). The Paper. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  4. "Liu Xiao Ling Tong's father, Liu Ling Tong, has passed away". Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  5. "Good bye, Xiao Liu Ling Tong(Liu Xiao Ling Tong's elder brother)". Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  6. Liu Xiao Ling Tong (actor of Monkey King): Mouthpiece of the 3rd International Forum on China Cultural Industry. cciif.com. Retrieved on May 22, 2008.
  7. "Liu Xiao Ling Tong responded to his portraits in Wu Cheng En's former House". Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  8. 六小龄童惊喜现身《大闹天竺》. Mtime (in Chinese). January 29, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  9. 《一带一路·重走玄奘路》获第六届温哥华国际华语电影节最佳纪录片奖. sohu.com (in Chinese). July 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  10. 六小龄童：弘扬中华优秀传统文化的“行者”. gmw.com (in Chinese). 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  11. Foreign versions of "Journey to the West" tell a different story. Chinanews.cn. Retrieved on May 22, 2008
  12. 东京奥运形象大使不只是孙悟空，“二次元”从边缘走向核心. The Paper (in Chinese). 3 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 对此，86版《西游记》孙悟空扮演者六小龄童在接受《环球时报》的采访时也谈及自己对此事的看法。在他看来，《七龙珠》的“孙悟空”并不是中国的孙悟空。
  13. 专访六小龄童：《七龙珠》不是我们民族东西. www.JiaoDong.net (in Chinese). 6 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 我要推崇这样的一种精神，让我们的国人和外国观众，真正知道什么是中国的动画片，我们不要一味跟着某一些国家后面去追他们的那种风格，把孙悟空都弄得髭毛乍鬼的那样的，叫什么《七龙珠》，这个不是我们民族的东西。
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