Known as the "national essence", Sichuan drama face-changing stunt is not only a national intangible cultural heritage, but also the only national second-level cultural secret in the Chinese theater industry.
Speaking of changing his face, he had to talk about Andy Lau's learning from his teacher. Andy Lau's worship of his teacher to change his face has caused a sensation in China, and it has not been smooth sailing in the process of learning from his teacher, especially his master Peng Denghuai, who has encountered a lot of resistance.
Peng Denghuai, Han ethnicity, Sichuan Ziyang people. Born in 1946, he is now a lecturer at the Sichuan Opera School, a world-famous Sichuan opera face changer, a national first-class actor, and can conjure up 14 faces in 25 seconds.
At the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 1998, Peng Denghuai was invited to participate in the performance, and his wonderful "changing face" stunt shocked Andy Lau who was also at the scene. In the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1999, Andy Lau met Peng Denghuai again in Shanghai and offered to worship him as a teacher for the first time. At that time, Peng Denghuai did not agree, and Andy Lau waited for 45 minutes at the door of Peng's powder room.
In October of the same year, Peng Denghuai went to Hong Kong to perform, and Andy Lau pushed off all activities to find him, and proposed to worship him for the second time. Really touched by Andy Lau's sincerity, Peng Denghuai agreed to his request.
He told Andy Lau three chapters of the Fa: First, when I was alive, I was not allowed to perform 'changing my face' at will; second, I was not allowed to accept apprentices; third, I was not allowed to teach to foreigners; fourth, I did not engage in the traditional incense burning and prostration ceremony, and I did not charge tuition. Andy Lau signed all his commitments.
Just after the news came out that Peng Denghuai wanted to accept Liu Dehua's apprenticeship and change his face, in view of the special situation, the leaders of sichuan schools in Sichuan Province had already made instructions to the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and the Hong Kong and Macao Department of the Ministry of Culture, but the relevant departments did not make clear statements and specific opinions at that time.
On March 22, 2000, the two sides held a ceremony in Beijing, and Andy Lau officially knelt down to pay homage to Peng Denghuai as his teacher. Due to Andy Lau's star effect, the media, the Internet and other news are overwhelming, like a bombshell thrown into the boiling water pot, which has triggered a huge controversy.
This storm of public opinion suddenly pushed Peng Denghuai to the cusp of the storm. Some people accused him of "leaking secrets of the country", "hyping himself", and "collecting Andy Lau 400,000 yuan to sell his art"; some people sneered at him with ill will: "When Andy Lau and Peng Denghuai kneel, at this moment Peng Denghuai must have a 'sense of grain and grain entering the warehouse' in his heart." Some leaders even threatened to punish Peng Denghuai, or even dismiss him from public office.
An ordinary apprenticeship incident put Peng Denghuai into an "embattled" situation, and the mentor-apprentice friendship between Peng Denghuai and Andy Lau was tested pointlessly.
Knowing that he was exhausted because of himself, Andy Lau called many times to comfort Peng Denghuai. Especially after hearing that the master may be "dismissed from public office", Andy Lau said emotionally: "If this is really the case, I will support you for a lifetime!" ”
Peng Denghuai was greatly moved, and in turn comforted Andy Lau: "No big deal, we are walking right, walking upright, you and I will always be masters and apprentices!" "The friendship between master and disciple is overflowing with words.
After the storm gradually subsided, Peng Denghuai began to teach Andy Lau to change his face. In seven years, Peng Denghuai gave and Made-Lau eight lectures face to face. Andy Lau has a high level of understanding, and Peng Denghuai praised his beloved disciple: "He can understand it at one point." The figure, rhythm and basic skills are decent after learning them two or three times. ”
Andy Lau also kept his promise of "never leaking secrets", and even his parents were not allowed to see the props that changed their faces.
When Peng Denghuai was engaged in the 50th anniversary of Sichuan opera art, Andy Lau sent someone from Hong Kong to send him a handwritten plaque: "Benshi Peng Denghuai: Fifty Pear Garden Love, Flower Armor Art Haichun." Disciple Huashu. ”
Andy Lau also recorded a video: "... In the future, I will listen to Master's words and promote this art... No matter what the future holds, Master, you will always be my relative! "The words were sincere and sincere, and everyone present was impressed.
For eighteen years, Peng Denghuai did not take any more apprentices. Today, Andy Lau's face-changing skills have made great progress, and it is said that he has been able to conjure up more than 10 faces. Over the years, Andy Lau has also made great contributions to the development of the "Sichuan Drama Face Change" stunt.