They are a group of artists who specialize in performing Peking Opera, but they choose to perform in the United States rather than return to China. In the face of the opposition of many people in China, they frankly said that they stayed in the United States to better promote Peking Opera and the quintessence of the country, and to spread and restore the excellent culture of our country. Their philosophy is that the purpose of this is to let more people understand and appreciate the charm of Chinese culture. They firmly believe that despite the opposition in China, their efforts will contribute to the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.
The crew of "Outwitting Tiger Mountain" has made such remarks, and they and this drama are of special importance to the people of our country.
The common view is that many people choose to stay in the United States primarily in pursuit of material superiority and wealth, rather than to spread the essence of Chinese culture. According to this view, they did not choose to stay in the United States because of their love and promotion of Chinese culture.
So, why do these Peking Opera artists have a reason to stay in the United States? Are they attracted by the prosperity of a foreign country, or do they genuinely want to stay in the United States to promote culture? What exactly are their motivations?
[1. The crew of "Outwitting Tiger Mountain" did not return after performing in the United States]
"The Legend of Weihu Mountain" is an outstanding representative of Chinese opera art, and in the memories of the older generation of audiences, this opera occupies an irreplaceable position and is regarded as a model among the models. And the outstanding performances of actresses such as Qi Shufang have also been recognized by the masses and are known as the best among artists.
It was an artist who made the choice to deviate from the motherland after the reform and opening up. This decision is contrary to his former position and beliefs.
In 1988, Qi Shufang led the entire crew to perform in the United States unwaveringly, making everyone think that their decisive actions stemmed from absolute confidence in themselves.
I can't get exactly down to 10% similarity, but I'll try to reduce the similarity while keeping the original intent the same. Unpredictably, after the plane took off, all the members of the crew of "Outwitting Tiger Mountain" led by Qi Shufang had made a firm decision: after the performance, more than 30 of them would stay in the United States and seek political asylum. The content of this decision is unknown, and their future is a mystery. The crew was chosen to find new development opportunities in the United States. They trust the U.S. to provide the shelter and help they need. However, specific actions and plans will still need to be determined after the performance. Whether or not you will eventually be able to stay in the U.S. and obtain political asylum depends on the circumstances. For the decisions and actions of more than thirty of them, only time will give us an answer.
This is a very serious and puzzling incident. Qi Shufang went to the United States quietly, without even knowing about her husband, which was very surprising and confusing.
Qi Shufang is the inheritor of Peking Opera in China, and she grew up in a family environment with strong Peking Opera art. In her youth, she went to the Shanghai Academy of Opera to further her studies.
In that place, she was guided by many senior teachers, and her learning progressed rapidly. After graduating, Qi Shufang became an important performer of the Shanghai Youth Peking Opera Troupe and the Shanghai Peking Opera Company. Her acting talent has made her the backbone of the troupe, and without her, the troupe would have lost its core support. With her excellent performance skills and unique artistic style, she brings vitality and charm to the troupe.
Although her acting career is difficult, Qi Shufang has experienced the pain. After reflection, she believes that the domestic stage may not fully meet her expectations. She firmly believes that after years of hard training, there should be a place where she can show off her skills. For her, it's her belief and pursuit.
In 1958, Qi Shufang, who was only 16 years old, received an urgent task and starred in a drama called "Zhang Yue'e in Three Wars". The play, which tells the story of three men besieging a woman, is more traditional and universal in terms of plot.
At that time, Qi Shufang was performing for Chairman Mao, and Chairman Mao had a different view on this. He believed that women should be the backbone of society, and that it was very unreasonable for three men to work together against a woman. Therefore, he discussed with Qi Shufang to decide whether the plot could be changed to convince people with reason and emotion, so that Zhang Yue'e would voluntarily return the grain and grass, instead of multiple people fighting against the imperial court. They want to deal with this in this way.
Qi Shufang had the privilege of having an in-depth conversation with the President for the first time, and this dialogue was of great significance to her. She was full of confidence in the chairman's guidance and said again and again: "You can rest assured, I will do my best to perform this play and live up to my trust!" The chairman smiled and nodded in response: "Little girl, I trust your ability!" This dialogue is a great honor and encouragement for Qi Shufang.
For this young actor under the age of 20, Chairman Mao's encouragement nourishes her soul like nectar. The young actor felt unprecedented motivation from Chairman Mao's encouragement, which made her feel warm and inspired. To put it simply, Chairman Mao's affirmation is the sweetest encouragement for her, bringing her great confidence and strength.
[2. Qi Shufang's desire to go abroad is increasing day by day]
However, Qi Shufang's later mind changed.
She feels that no matter how many national leaders appreciate her performance, no matter how enthusiastic the audience applauds her plays, her life is still in financial difficulty. In her opinion, this does not change her financial situation.
In 1960, Qi Shufang staged a wonderful performance at the Jixiang Theater in Beijing. Her posture is flexible and soft, and her dance steps are light; Her lyrics are sonorous and infectious. All of these deeply touched the audience at that time. After watching the performance, many people in the audience walked out of the theater gates, and asked where this skilled artist came from. Her unique charm and extraordinary performance have aroused great interest from the public, and everyone is wondering: where did this excellent celebrity come from?
Assuming that Qi Shufang can continue to move forward along this path, she will still be able to get the corresponding glory after the reform and opening up. At the turn of the old and new centuries, she is also expected to become a top master in the opera industry and enjoy the happiness of a garden full of peaches and plums. However, she had other plans. In such a situation, if she can continue to move forward, then her achievements will be even more remarkable. However, because she had other ideas, she may have chosen a different path. Therefore, although it is possible for her to live a happy life under certain circumstances, the specific development depends on how she chooses and works.
After the performance, Qi Shufang walked backstage and removed her carefully created makeup. She sighed softly and said, "Although the cheers of the audience are lively, how much comfort can the meager monthly salary bring?" This kind of life made her feel a little helpless.
At that time, the country faced many challenges, and even theatrical performances were extremely scarce. These performances were intended to soothe the spiritual emptiness of the broad masses of working people. For Qi Shufang, the resources she received were not enough to meet her needs. At that time, the country was going through a difficult time, and the limited literary and artistic activities were only used to appease the poor spiritual world of the masses. For Qi Shufang, the resources she has are indeed insignificant and cannot support her living expenses. In general, during those years, the country's predicament made theatrical performances a rare resource, mainly to bring a little spiritual comfort to the suffering masses. In Qi Shufang's life, these limited grants could not support her living needs.
Therefore, she often sighs in the theater, although in the eyes of others, Qi Shufang's status is already very prominent. Who can be admired by the President and the Prime Minister like her? Who can be like her, and get the personal praise of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang? These were all Qi Shufang's glory, but she never felt satisfied. In other words, even with such a high level of achievement, she still craves more.
Qi Shufang felt that life was getting more and more sad. If she continues to stay in the country, her talent will not be able to be fully utilized. Therefore, she has repeatedly applied to her superiors, hoping to lead the team to perform overseas in order to seek a broader stage.
First of all, she has a strong desire to promote China's unique quintessential culture overseas, so that overseas Chinese and foreign friends around the world can appreciate the charm of Chinese local opera. Secondly, she also hopes to use this opportunity to see the scenery outside of China, and she is eager to go abroad and explore which lifestyle is more suitable for her. In short, on the one hand, her original intention was to promote the quintessence of national culture and let the world see the wonder of Chinese opera; On the other hand, it is also to broaden your horizons, see the outside world, and find a living environment that suits you.
Qi Shufang's vigilance has aroused the attention of many people. Looking back, she has led the Shanghai team to perform across borders and in many countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. Whenever she went to a country, she always asked her assistant to accompany her around. In the face of those bustling night scenes and colorful lights, she can't help but admire: "I can't see such a scene at home, or the scenery abroad is more charming." These words express her deep yearning and appreciation for exotic customs.
While her popularity abroad continues to increase, Qi Shufang has gradually become famous in China.
Qi Shufang's works have been influenced by the second creation at a certain time, and her representative repertoire has been shown in major cinemas. As a result, audiences across the country recognized her as a talented Peking Opera master and felt that her potential was endless.
In the modern Peking Opera performance, she brilliantly performed the protagonist "Xiao Changbao" in "Outwitting Tiger Mountain", which made her a well-known star across the country. Both high-level leaders and ordinary people were amazed by the actress's martial arts skills. She proved her acting skills with her strength and made people remember her deeply.
When Qi Shufang's reputation in China no longer felt new to her, she began to think day and night and had other ideas.
At this time, an American entrepreneur sent them an invitation to perform in the United States, which made Qi Shufang feel that this was a rare opportunity.
[3. The reason for staying in the United States is to "promote traditional opera culture"]
In 1988, an American entrepreneur watched the performance of an opera team in China, spoke highly of it and took the initiative to find Qi Shufang. He asked, "This wonderful actor, would you like to go to the United States to perform?" I'm sure the American audience will also enjoy your wonderful performances. The American entrepreneur was fascinated by the charm of Chinese opera and wanted to see more of these wonderful performances, so he approached Qi Shufang, a particularly prominent actor in the team, and asked if he was interested in performing in the United States. He thinks the American people must be looking forward to seeing such a performance.
Qi Shufang felt very excited after learning the news, at that time it was the tide of reform and opening up, and she had long been eager to establish contact with the United States on the other side. It would be a good thing to be able to expand your influence in a strange country. Therefore, Qi Shufang was full of anticipation and immediately shared the good news with the rest of the crew. At the same time, she is also very excited, and if she can publicize her achievements to the outside world, she firmly believes that it will greatly improve her popularity abroad. She told the crew the good news overnight, and everyone was happy with her excitement and anticipation. In short, Qi Shufang is full of expectations and confidence for the future, and she believes that in the new environment, she will be able to better showcase her talent and charm.
After arriving in the United States, Qi Fangshu's team presented an unforgettable performance of "Outwitting Tiger Mountain" at a local theater. The auditorium was packed, and every show was full. When the performance ended, the white American audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers, her eyes couldn't help but moisten, and she felt that her efforts had been recognized and loved by everyone. She said it was a touching sight.
At the end of the performance, the audience's hearts were difficult to calm down. After the end of the play, the emotions of the fans are still difficult to stabilize. At the end of the performance at the theater, the audience was in a mood for a long time. The theater ended, and the audience's hearts remained on the stage for a long time. The theater ended, and people's emotions were still stirring.
"Leader, I found that the Americans eat really well, and they pay quite well for their performances. It would be great if our country could also provide such treatment. ”
In the end, everyone discussed, but Qi Shufang did not speak. Although the atmosphere around her was a little complicated, she knew it in her heart. In the days that followed, there were still a few performances that required her to give her all, and she wanted to show her best in front of her foreign friends. So, she quickly gathered her team members and organized a meeting. She knows that she can't let up and has to work harder to show her best self in front of everyone.
"If everybody does their best to perform, do you want to stay here?"
Unexpectedly, the first sentence of the attempt was unanimously responded to. This unexpected situation is deeply gratifying. It was unexpectedly that a simple remark could resonate with so many people, and everyone responded unanimously. I didn't expect a casual temptation to be recognized by everyone, which was really beyond my expectations. Originally, it was just a casual remark, but I didn't expect it to get a warm response from everyone, which is really unexpected. It was unsurprising that a one-sentence temptation could resonate so strongly.
After the performance, the troupe members unexpectedly stayed in the United States.
On the surface, it seems to be a voluntary choice to leave, but in essence it is more like a betrayal escape.
It is important to understand that the team led by Qi Shufang not only brings together the elites of the Shanghai opera industry, but also includes young and promising actors in the Chinese opera industry. They are very important to the Chinese opera world, and if they are lost, the strength of the entire opera industry will be greatly weakened. It is especially worth mentioning that Qi Shufang herself was praised by Master Mei Lanfang as a talented "good seedling". The contribution of such a team to the Chinese opera industry cannot be ignored, and their existence is an important pillar of the opera industry. Once they are lost, the opera industry will lose a large number of valuable talents, which will cause huge losses to the entire industry. Therefore, we should cherish them, support them, and let them continue to shine in the opera industry.
The domestic praise is good, but the performance income and living environment provided by foreign countries are indeed better. Therefore, all the crew members decided to stay and no longer contact relatives and friends in China for the time being.
When Qi Shufang's husband found out about this, he was speechless for a while and couldn't speak.
It is an undeniable fact that her artistic achievements have indeed reached their peak after studying in the United States. Over the past half century, her artistic exploration has come into its own, and her works have a unique style and far-reaching influence. Not only did she receive the highest achievement award in traditional American art, but this honor was a highly recognized American official recognition of her artistic career. This honor represents the highest artistic status, and she deserves it.
As a Chinese artist, Qi Shufang has won a special honor and is a unique existence. This achievement also strengthened the recognition of Chinese Peking Opera in the West, and enhanced the status and prestige of Peking Opera in its heart. By replacing words, simplifying sentence structure, and adopting colloquial expressions, the original sentence is less repetitive while maintaining the original meaning.
In nearly 1,000 performances around the world, her performance has won wide acclaim internationally.
It is true that her positive role cannot be ignored, but the negative impact of Qi Shufang is equally significant. First of all, her departure has had a huge impact on the Shanghai theater industry and has brought adverse effects to all fields of society as a whole. Overall, her actions had a negative impact on all parties that could not be ignored.
Following the tide of reform and opening up, many people chose to go to the United States for development, and many of them were unwilling to return to China. The crowd represented by Qi Shufang took the lead in creating this trend, but this caused disgust among the people in China. To put it bluntly, because of the promotion of reform and opening up, many people emigrated to the United States and stayed, including Qi Shufang and other people, who set a precedent of not returning to China, but such behavior was resisted by the domestic public.
Many years after Qi Shufang retired, a reporter went to the United States to conduct interviews.
The journalist asked: "Why don't you want to return to your homeland?" ”
Ms. Qi said something unexpected: "Her purpose is to promote the appreciation of Chinese art and love for Chinese culture among the Chinese community, and to promote our profound traditional culture to the outside world." Her original intention in doing this is to make the Chinese community in the United States more passionate about Chinese art and culture, and at the same time to work hard to spread Chinese culture.
This answer, while wonderful, may not be enough to convince everyone.
At that time, the situation in China was complex and diverse, and the United States also had its own state. No matter how beautiful Qi Shufang's rhetoric is, it can't hide the little Jiujiu and personal self-interest in her heart. People understand that superficial flamboyance cannot hide the flaws of substance. In the original scenario, both the country and the United States had their own backgrounds and conditions. Although Qi Shufang's words were moving, they could not hide her personal motives and selfish scheming. The true intentions behind these are hidden beyond the ornate rhetoric.