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Text丨Editor: Mochizuki Pavilion
In the Spring Festival Gala of 1989, the international friend "Xu Dashan" (Mark) became famous with his outstanding performance, and was appreciated by cross talk masters Hou Baolin and Jiang Kun.
His performance not only won the love of the audience, but even became the first foreigner to win the Magnolia Award. Because of Feng Gong's words, Dashan chose to leave the domestic stage, and then disappeared from public view.
While foreigners rely on wealth codes to enjoy success in China, the mountains seem to have "disappeared". This begs the question, where is he going and what is his current situation?
What did Feng Gong say at that time? Let's follow the pace of Mochizuki Pavilion to explore together
On the occasion of the Spring Festival in 1989, a special actor appeared in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala - a young man with a foreign face. Since the inception of the Spring Festival Gala, the audience has never seen such a unique performer on this stage. His appearance immediately piqued the curiosity of the viewer, but due to long-standing perceptions, few pinned their hopes on the exotic artist.
When he opened his mouth and said, "Open the door, I'm the mountain!", everything changed. His standard fluent Chinese pronunciation immediately attracted the attention of the audience. In those days, it was rare for foreigners to be able to speak Chinese fluently, let alone such a young, accurate young man. His performance is not only refreshing, but also full of comedy.
As the sketch unfolds, the audience is gradually attracted to the plot. Although the image of Oyama is somewhat peculiar, his words and deeds are full of joy. His helpless and funny expression made the audience laugh and became the highlight of the party. His performances are not only natural but also vivid, full of understanding and respect for Chinese culture.
This performance made Dashan an overnight celebrity and a household name throughout the country. But as his fame rose, his real name was gradually forgotten by the public, and only the name "Dashan" resounded everywhere. Behind this seemingly simple name, there is a deep cultural and personal history. Dashan is not only his stage name, but also a symbol of his deep affection for Chinese culture.
Mark Rothwell (later known to Chinese audiences as "The Mountain") was born in Ottawa, Canada, in the spring of 1965, but his deep ties to China were planted decades before he was born. In the 20s of the 20th century, Mark's grandfather, an enthusiastic doctor, led his family halfway around the world to China. In China, he worked for several years in a church hospital established in Canada, providing medical care to the locals.
This family history left a deep mark on Mark. He was curious about Chinese culture from an early age, and this curiosity grew up with him. Mark's parents would often reminisce about his grandfather's experiences in China, and the stories that made him yearn for this faraway and mysterious country. He showed a keen interest in traditional Chinese culture, history and even daily life, and this interest gradually became an inseparable part of his life.
Over time, Mark's interest in China deepened. He began to study XiChinese, studying Chinese history and culture. All this was done with the encouragement of his parents and family, who believed that it was very important to know and respect the past of their ancestors. Mark's family also kept some of his grandfather's old belongings in China, such as photographs and letters, and these precious memories became a bridge between Mark and China.
When Mark grew up, he decided to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and travel to China. With a heart full of curiosity and respect for this ancient civilization, as well as a sense of pride in his family's history, he embarked on a journey to China.
Among the many international students who come to China for further study, Mark Rothwell's knowledge of Chinese culture is particularly prominent. He is not only passionate about learning Xi Chinese Chinese and culture, but also delves into Chinese history and traditions. This deep interest and understanding made him stand out from his classmates and become a foreign friend with a true love and deep understanding of Chinese culture.
It is precisely because of Mark's deep passion for Chinese culture and excellent language skills that he got a rare opportunity to participate in an important CCTV program. In 1989, the director of CCTV's New Year's Day party was looking for a foreign student to participate in a sketch. They hope that the international student will not only be fluent in Chinese, but also able to understand and express China's unique sense of humor.
Mark's name quickly spread among the preparatory team. Not only does he have a deep understanding of Chinese culture, but he is also very good at verbal expression. These qualities of his are exactly what the CCTV program team needs. After some consideration, the program team decided to invite Mark to participate in the sketch performance of the evening.
For Mark, this opportunity is not only a stage to show his talents, but also an opportunity to show his identity and love for Chinese culture. Mark's performance on the show exceeded all expectations. He not only accurately grasped the rhythm and humor of the sketch, but also conquered all the audience with his fluent Chinese and natural performance. His performance not only showcased his personal talent, but also exemplified the beauty of cross-cultural communication. Mark's success not only brought him personal reputation, but also became a good story of cultural exchange between China and foreign countries.
After becoming famous in the Spring Festival Gala in 1989, Mark Rothwell, affectionately known as "The Mountain" by the audience, not only reached the peak of his career, but also met the noble people who changed his life.
On the Spring Festival Gala of that year, Dashan performed a sketch as a unique foreigner, while the famous cross talk artist Jiang Kun showed his cross talk talent at the same party. Despite the fact that the two perform in different forms, fate has subtly linked them together. Dashan's keen interest in cross talk erupted during this encounter, and he enthusiastically and firmly hoped to become a student of Jiang Kun.
But at that time, there was no precedent for foreign apprentices in the cross talk world. This art form, which is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, is difficult for many people to fully understand and grasp by foreigners. Despite Jiang Kun's initial rejection, Dashan was not discouraged.
He began to study Xi cross talk diligently, constantly showing Jiang Kun his progress. After some hard work, Jiang Kun began to change his opinion of this enthusiastic and talented young man. Jiang Kun realized that despite Dashan's exotic face, his love and understanding of Chinese culture was genuine. In the end, Jiang Kun decided to accept Dashan as an apprentice.
Jiang Kun's acceptance of foreigners as apprentices caused an uproar in the cross talk world. The heirs of the Hou faction cross talk accepted foreign apprentices, which was an unprecedented thing at that time. Even cross talk master Hou Baolin expressed concern about this. But Jiang Kun is unswerving, willing to use his reputation as a guarantee for Dashan's talent and enthusiasm.
With the joint efforts of both parties, Dashan finally became Jiang Kun's official disciple. However, due to Jiang Kun's busy career, he could not personally guide Dashan comprehensively, so he could only hand him over to his master Ding Guangquan. But instead of relaxing, the mountain studied Xi harder. A few years later, his efforts were finally recognized by Hou Baolin.
This hard-won recognition moved Dashan to tears, and this moment became an unforgettable memory in his life. Since then, Dashan has consolidated its position in the Chinese cross talk industry.
In 1990, as Jiang Kun's apprentice, Dashan once again appeared on the stage of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. As a foreigner playing "China Tong" on the cross talk stage, this should have been an awkward thing. However, under the interpretation of the mountain, it all seems so natural and harmonious.
All of this success stems from Dashan's deep love for Chinese culture. It is this love that has enabled him to overcome many difficulties and persevere in learning Xi and understanding Chinese culture. Under Master's careful guidance and mutual support, Dashan's career has once again reached a peak. His name, "Dashan", has become a household name in China, and wherever he goes, he can hear people calling it familiarly
When Dashan's cross talk career gradually got on the right track and made remarkable achievements, he received an invitation from a well-known Canadian company, proposing that he return to China for development. Such an opportunity is undoubtedly difficult for many people to refuse, but for Daiyama, the choice is not difficult. He resolutely rejected the offer because he loved not only his career in China, but also his life and relationships in the land.
In 1990, by chance, Dashan met Gan Lin, a smart and beautiful Chinese girl. The love story between them is like the plot of a movie, and an incident of a hero saving beauty connects two hearts closely. Their relationship quickly warmed up, and they entered the palace of marriage three years later. After getting married, they welcomed a son and a daughter successively, and their family life was full of happiness and joy.
After fulfilling his personal life, Dashan's career has also reached new heights. He not only appeared on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala for two consecutive years, but also won the honor of "one of the most influential foreigners in 20 years". This honor is not only a recognition of his artistic achievements, but also an affirmation of his contribution to cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.
The story of Dashan has become a model for many people to pursue their dreams and love. His life trajectory proves that when one persists in one's love and belief in oneself, one can reach the pinnacle of life, no matter how many temptations and difficulties it faces. Dashan has not only achieved success in his career, but also found happiness in love and family life.
Dashan, a popular Canadian comedian in China, finally made a big decision to leave China, an act that caused heated discussions and misunderstandings among many netizens. They questioned Dashan's patriotism and considered his departure to be disloyal to China. However, the truth behind this decision is far more complex than it seems.
In fact, it was the advice of the famous Chinese comedian Feng Gong that inspired Dashan's inner thinking. "If you want to succeed again, you have to get out of your comfort zone. This sentence prompted Dashan to re-examine his life and career path. Having achieved great success in China, he decided to pursue higher goals and look for new challenges.
In the face of criticism and misunderstanding from netizens, Dashan did not back down. He resolutely returned to Canada and began a new career. After returning to China, he not only became a TV host, but also played an important role in a number of Sino-Canadian cultural exchange activities. None of this is accidental. During his student years, he worked as a Public Affairs Assistant at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, an experience that gave him a deep understanding of the cultural differences and communication methods between China and Canada, which laid a solid foundation for his later career.
The story of Dashan shows us the hardships and difficulties of the road to success. In order to pursue higher dreams, he did not hesitate to leave his comfort zone and take on new challenges. In the process, he has shown firm belief and fearless courage to constantly explore and expand the boundaries of his abilities.
At the same time, Dashan's experience also reminds us to respect the individual's cultural background and personal choices. In a diverse world, everyone has their own pursuits and dreams, and we should not be quick to judge and criticize the choices of others. True courage lies in daring to face the unknown, to step out of your comfort zone and explore the wider world.
In the end, through his own efforts and determination, Dashan not only achieved new achievements in Canada, but also became a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Canada, proving the importance of cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.