Text|Qingyu
Editor|Huang Yi is here
For most audiences, the classic role played by You Benchang is the monk Jigong.
You Benchang played Jigong in the TV series "Jigong" in 1985 with a very good performance and amiable image, successfully interpreted the role of "Jigong" to the fullest.
It is still a classic today.
However, while the voice of praise spread throughout the entertainment industry, a series of strange things happened to You Benchang.
It is still impossible to explain it.
01 I have been associated with Buddha since childhood
Few people know that long before becoming a "living Buddha and Jigong", You Benchang had already formed an indissoluble bond with the Buddha.
Born in Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province in 1933, You Benchang was weak and sick from an early age, and his parents carefully maintained him to raise him from babbling to toddler.
But he was still asserted that he did not live to be thirteen.
One day when he was six years old, a mysterious monk suddenly knocked on their door.
You Benchang's parents were very surprised by this, but the monk did not explain his intentions.
He walked directly to You Benchang, looked at him intently a few times, and then turned around and said: "This child is related to the Buddha, if he is not allowed to stay in front of the Buddha, I am afraid he will not be able to live past the age of 13." ”
Because he has not been in good health since he was a child, plus the monk said such a sentence again.
With the idea that "it is better to believe than to trust nothing", his parents sent him to a temple in Shanghai to worship Gen-la Xingci.
Since then, there has been a small monk with the Dharma name "Chengpei" in the Fazang Temple.
In the temple, he did not give up studying every day in addition to religiously worshiping the Buddha.
He was naturally intelligent and intelligent, and mastered what he learned extremely quickly.
At the age of fifteen, You Benchang survived the life and death disaster of his 13-year-old, and his parents, who missed their son so much, hurriedly went to the monastery to pick him up.
You Benchang began his normal school life, during which You Benchang gradually developed a strong interest in acting.
In order to improve his acting skills, he purchased various related books and carefully observed the actors' performance on stage, paying attention to their facial expressions and body movements.
After the college entrance examination, You Benchang decided to apply to the Shanghai Theater Academy to pursue his acting dream.
Living up to expectations, You Benchang was successfully admitted to the Shanghai Theater Academy and joined the Central Drama Theater, starring with the troupe.
Although he was still a newcomer at the time, he gradually gained more opportunities to perform with hard work and talent.
Although he could only play a few minor roles at first, he always took each role seriously and worked hard to shape the character.
Until 1985, starring in "Jigong", his and Buddha met again.
And during the filming of "Jigong", a series of strange and interesting things happened, which still make people scratch their heads.
02 Incredible rain
When filming the TV series "Jigong" that year, You Benchang encountered a rain phenomenon that is still unexplained.
At the shooting site, there was a scene where it needed to rain, but the sky was clear at that time, and there were no signs of rain at all.
The rain was also extremely tricky because there were no artificial rain equipment such as sprinkler trucks at that time.
However, just as You Benchang was preparing to shoot, the originally clear sky suddenly became gloomy, and then it poured rain.
This rain not only solved the urgent need, but also made the shooting effect more realistic.
Another thing is the opposite. During the filming of the TV series "Jigong", it suddenly rained heavily, which caused great trouble to the crew who were filming outdoor scenes.
However, when You Benchang was about to start shooting, the sky miraculously cleared.
It was very surprising and amazed by the cast and crew.
For this strange thing, people speculate on many possibilities.
Some people believe that this is because You Benchang's role as Jigong is too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, causing him to influence the weather.
Some people also believe that this is You Benchang's over-involvement in the performance, which caused him to have some abnormal state of body and mind, which in turn affected the weather.
03 Sudden wind
Another strange thing is that there was a scene of Jigong fighting with the black wind Daoist in the filming of "Jigong".
In the process of filming this scene, the crew also encountered many other unexpected difficulties.
In order to create a realistic Dharma scene, they needed to shoot in a dense forest.
Strong winds are needed during shooting to create a tense atmosphere.
In order to achieve the shooting effect, the crew specially found a strong fan. It turned out that even if the wind was turned to the maximum, it could not create the effect of wind-blown trees.
In order to ensure the shooting progress, the director planned to shoot other scenes first.
However, at this time, You Benchang arrived at the shooting site and suddenly encountered a strong wind.
The director immediately realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and decided to shoot the scene immediately.
The wind lasted two or three hours, while filming went on for three hours.
Despite the strong wind, not a drop of rain fell.
This sudden wind added a lot of drama to the filming and made the director and actors more engaged.
You Benchang's performance in the wind is more real, and his interaction with the forest becomes more vivid.
After the shooting, the director and actors were full of emotion, and this wind brought them unforgettable memories.
You Benchang said that this is his most impressive shooting since the film, and the director also expressed gratitude for the "unexpected visit" of this wind.
This stormy trip to the forest became a story that they will never forget.
04 A strange encounter with a butterfly
With the wind and rain, attracting butterflies is naturally indispensable.
In a filming TV series "Jigong", You Benchang held a fan symbolizing Jigong's identity.
At this time, there happened to be a dancing butterfly, and You Benchang saw this scene and shouted to the butterfly: "Come quickly." ”
While speaking, he also waved with the fan in his hand.
Surprisingly, the butterfly seemed to understand his words and really flew over.
The photographer seized this rare moment, filmed this scene, and put it in the TV series.
When the audience saw this scene, they were all shocked by the behavior of this butterfly.
Many people think that this is a special effect, but in fact, it is just a wonderful fate between You Benchang and butterflies.
This scene made the audience have a deeper resonance with You Benchang's performance, and they also liked his role as Jigong even more.
Regarding these unexplained events, You Benchang said: "I believe that all this is the best arrangement. Perhaps it was some kind of test of strength that allowed me to better understand the character of Jigong. ”
He firmly believes that these experiences not only gave him a deeper understanding of the role of Jigong, but also made him cherish every moment of his life more.
Although these events have sparked a lot of speculation and discussion, Yau Benchang has always maintained a humble and open attitude.
Whenever I think back to these strange events, You Benchang always sighs with emotion.
He knows that as an actor, his role is not only to show his acting skills on stage, but also to play a role model in life.
Therefore, he has always maintained a humble heart, willing to accept the arrangement of fate, and strives to share his experience with more people.
05 "Jigong" became a monk again
Perhaps he has seen through the world and no longer has nostalgia for red dust.
In 2009, You Benchang received the ordination of Master Changhuai at the Daguang Temple in Suifenhe City, Heilongjiang Province.
He became a monk again and gave the name of the Dharma.
You Benchang chose to become a monk in his later years because he believed that he had a relationship with Buddhism.
Especially after starring in "Jigong", he felt that Jigong inspired him and made him understand the true meaning of life, so he was willing to devote himself to Buddha.
The fate with Buddhism, with Jigong, and with the stage has become an important part of You Benchang's life.
He's not just an actor, he's an artist, and he's always insisting on interpreting every character in his own way.
After he became a monk, You Benchang combined this pursuit with Buddhism, using his own practice to improve his acting skills and realm.
His ordination and association with Buddha were the most important choices and experiences of his life, and these fates became the most precious treasures in his life.
06 Anecdotes in "Journey to the West"
And similar supernatural events like those in "Jigong" have also appeared in "Guanyin" in "Journey to the West".
Most people's imagination of the image of "Guanyin Bodhisattva" should be what it looks like in "Journey to the West".
The role of Guanyin in the play is played by Zuo Daxuan.
She was caught by director Yang Jie for her image of Guanyin in the play:
"You are the Chosen Guanyin, please come and play my Guanyin Master."
Facts have proved that director Yang Jie does have a pair of discerning eyes, and this Guanyin is very well chosen.
Every time I shoot Guanyin, it is a bright sun.
There was even a time when the crew went to Mount Emei to shoot, and it was rainy and rainy when others filmed.
As soon as the "Guanyin Daishi" came out, the sun was shining, and the whole body was shining with golden light, sacred and majestic.
After many such incidents, she began to go to temples and other places, who had never believed in gods and Buddhas.
But her "Guanyin" is so deeply rooted in people's hearts that whenever she goes to a temple and is recognized, someone will worship her.
epilogue
The role of Jigong played by Old Master You Benchang can be described as deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, which not only makes the audience feel the charm of the character, but also triggers a series of "strange" and "supernatural" events.
These anecdotes undoubtedly add a bit of mystery to the series, making the audience more and more fascinated by the story of Jigong.
But these anecdotes are just hilarious after all.
After all, the world is still material, and a firm materialist path is our only choice.