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William Chen
Edited by William Chen
Preface
In that bright spring era, a group of dream chasers shook the eyes of the world with a shocking move.
In the face of the frenzy of controversy, will they be able to hold on to their dreams?
Can the oath endure? And what kind of hardships and obstacles should you go through?
The answer to everything is hidden in those extraordinary years.
Let's unveil this legend together.
Rebellious for a while, vowing not to look back
In 1988, just as the spring breeze of reform was blowing in China, the open door gave the dream wings to take off.
The Peking Opera Troupe was invited to tour the United States, led by the popular Peking Opera singer Qi Shufang.
With an excited mood, the group sailed across the ocean to show the unique cultural treasures of the motherland.
Originally, this was just a short visit, but after the end, Qi Shufang suddenly took the case and announced that she and more than 30 members of the group would stay in the United States forever.
This decision caused an earth-shaking shock, like a thunderstorm on the ground, setting off a surging frenzy.
Public opinion was in an uproar, and skeptical voices and suspicious eyes poured in like a tide.
Some wonder if they were deceived and instigated by something; There is also speculation that it is to chase a high-paying and lucrative life in the United States;
Others speculate that it is because the domestic environment lacks attention and favor for Peking Opera as a traditional art.
Qi Shufang explained her decision: "I am pursuing my artistic ideals.
As an artist, my devout belief in art is unshakable. "
These sincere words seemed to unveil the layers of fog in her heart.
However, the voices of skepticism have not completely ceased.
After all, what she did was somewhat out of step with her identity as a Peking Opera artist, and seemed a little hasty and impulsive.
For the pursuit of dreams, should we be desperate and not ask about the future?
In a foreign country, I have endured all the hardships
Stepping on a foreign land, Qi Shufang and his party began a wandering life.
The crew's funds were only enough to last for a short period of time, and soon there was not much left.
The pressure to survive is imminent, and in order to make ends meet, they have to perform on the streets for tourists in exchange for a small pay.
A national treasure-level art troupe is tormented by poverty and frustration in this way, which is indeed a sigh.
Seeing that they were about to fall into a worse and worse situation, at this critical moment, a kind-hearted person finally reached out to help them and brought them a glimmer of life.
This benevolent man is the Chinese-American pianist Huang Bowen.
He organized a large-scale charity concert for Qi Shufang and others, and all the proceeds were used to fund this wandering troupe.
Huang Bowen said: "Peking Opera is a treasure of China, and I don't want it to lose its luster overseas.
His act of kindness was undoubtedly a timely and timely rain that gave the troupe a respite.
Thanks to this concert, Qi Shufang and her party were able to get out of the current predicament and successfully obtain the status of legal residence in the United States.
However, even so, the road ahead is still full of unknown hardships and challenges.
In an unfamiliar and difficult environment, how can they regain their strength and let the ancient art of Peking Opera take root in a foreign land?
Alone, step by step
Soon, Qi Shufang realized that in order to gain a foothold and develop the Peking Opera career, it was far from enough to rely on personal strength.
She needs to unite more like-minded companions and gather strength to tide over the difficulties together.
So in 1996, she founded the "Mei Tokyo Theater Company" and personally served as the head of the troupe, leading everyone to start anew.
The goal of the Tokyo Theatre Company is to inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture in a foreign country.
In order to achieve this goal, Qi Shufang and the members of the group worked diligently, studied day and night, and made bold innovations.
They skillfully integrated the traditional elements of Peking Opera with contemporary art elements, injecting performance forms such as singing, dancing, acrobatics, and martial arts, creating a unique style of "combining Chinese and Western".
This new way of performing has undoubtedly injected new vitality into Peking Opera, making it no longer just a closed and conservative classical art, but radiating unprecedented charm and vitality.
At the same time, this innovative attempt also gives more foreign audiences the opportunity to truly appreciate and appreciate this long-standing treasure of Chinese culture.
With its excellent performance quality and distinctive style, the Tokyo Theater Company quickly won a good reputation overseas and became an ambassador for the promotion of Chinese culture.
The red dress is bent and dyed beautiful
Leading and sustaining an art troupe is not an easy task.
As an art director, Qi Shufang has a lot of things to worry about.
From arranging the program, casting rehearsals to external publicity, she did it herself and paid a lot of hard work and sweat.
She is extremely strict with the actors, and often reprimands them harshly for the slightest mistake.
Sometimes even some senior members of the group could not escape the blame, bowing their heads and admitting their mistakes in her reprimand.
However, in private, Qi Shufang is a rather amiable elder.
She often patiently encourages young actors to pursue their dreams and not be bothered by the difficulties and setbacks in front of them.
From time to time, she will also share her journey of chasing her dreams when she was young, and guide everyone to take their ideals as the program and persevere.
Qi Shufang's love and dedication to the art of Peking Opera are her most distinctive personality characteristics.
No matter what setbacks she encountered, she never gave up on her dreams.
Even the criticism and accusations she suffered when she left her homeland could not shake her devotion to her dreams.
Under her leadership, the U.S. Tokyo Theater Company gradually gained a firm foothold, took root overseas, and gradually blossomed into a brilliant artistic flower.
Leave the sorrow and revisit the motherland
In the blink of an eye, 20 years have flown by.
Qi Shufang, who was once high-spirited, is now gray-haired and old.
But this time, it was with great excitement and mixed feelings that she set foot on the land of her motherland again.
Time flies like a white horse, and the rebellious and reckless girl has now become a world-renowned and respected art master.
The years are merciless, and will eventually calm down all the hustle and bustle, leaving only the eternal value of art itself.
Looking back on the past, Qi Shufang's departure did set off a lot of turmoil, which made people sigh.
But now her return is a mixed blessing and a question to yourself.
Because in the past 20 years, the times have changed dramatically.
The attitude of the Chinese people towards traditional culture is also similar to that of the past.
The stage is no longer on the fringes of culture, on the contrary, Peking Opera and opera are widely popular among modern young people.
This torrent of change has witnessed the gradual revival of Chinese culture on the land of the motherland and the regain of its former glory.
The return of this old artist has also become a microcosm of this change.
Qi Shufang's 20 years of experience in disseminating and promoting Peking Opera overseas is like a mirror, reflecting the context of Chinese culture being inherited and carried forward at home and abroad.
Close to the end of the world, what the heart thinks
Along the way, Qi Shufang has always cherished a heart of attachment to the motherland.
At the end of each performance, she would solemnly tell the audience: "These programs all originate from my motherland - China."
They are a combination of long-standing cultural heritage and are full of the wisdom and spiritual wealth of their ancestors.
I hope that through these performances, more foreign friends can understand and love this unique and brilliant artistic treasure. "
This old man, who is over the age of six, uses her lifelong energy and enthusiasm to light and illuminate the ancient and shining lamp of Peking Opera overseas, and become a cultural envoy;
Carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, so that audiences from all over the world are fortunate to have a glimpse of the unique charm of oriental art.
Although she was once criticized, her devotion to art and her persistent belief in art are undoubtedly well-deserved.
It is this dedication to her dreams that allows her to stand proudly in difficult circumstances and finally realize her long-cherished wish.
Looking back at the various encounters in the past, Qi Shufang's departure back then certainly makes people sigh.
But her return makes people feel a supreme satisfaction and respect.
Because this old man is not only an artist, but also an inheritor, holding the mirror of Chinese culture high and blooming with dazzling light.
epilogue
Dreams, like a shining pearl, need to be carved by dreamers with sweat and courage.
Qi Shufang and her Peking Opera troupe are such a group of dreamers, who ignore the world's obstacles and criticism, but only realize their persistent yearning for art.
They traveled to different places, overcame obstacles, and finally carved a moving legend with their deeds.
This legend not only witnesses the process of a group of artists pursuing their dreams, but also strings together the thread of Chinese culture at home and abroad.
We often envy the success of others and ignore the hardships they have endured.
Chasing dreams is undoubtedly a road full of thorns, and only with pious beliefs can we not forget our original intention and finally shine.