On January 22, 1916, Tao Jin was born in an ordinary family in Jiangsu Province. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in art. As a student, Tao Jin began to study painting and calligraphy, laying a solid foundation for his later artistic career.
In 1934, at the age of 18, Tao Jin came to Shanghai, which was full of opportunities. He entered the Shanghai Theater College and began his acting career. In school, Tao Jin not only learned acting skills, but also participated in drama training classes, showing extraordinary talent.
In the 30s, Shanghai had a strong cultural and artistic atmosphere. Tao Jin joined the Chinese Left-wing Dramatists Union and began his stage career. During this period, he participated in performances in Beiping, Shanghai, Nanjing and other places such as "La Traviata" and "Heroes of Troubled Times", gradually accumulated stage experience, and also received a lot of repercussions.
It was during this period that Tao Jin became acquainted with Bai Yang, who was also an actor. The two were like-minded and soon fell in love. On November 12, 1936, they tied the knot and soon after, they welcomed the birth of their daughter Tao Huimin.
This newly formed small family has become a strong backing for Tao Jin's career. Although his life is not rich, Tao Jin's love for acting supports him to persevere.
He and Bai Yang lived together in a small house on Qiuyao Road in Shanghai, and although they lived in poverty, the two often encouraged each other to pursue their artistic ideals together. During this period, Tao Jin was full of vigor and enthusiasm.
His performance on stage was gradually recognized, laying the foundation for a generation of movie stars in the future. From the countryside of Jiangsu to Shanghai Tang, Tao Jin used his hard work and talent to start his brilliant acting career.
As time passed, Tao Jin's acting career began to get on the right track. In 1947, he ushered in an important turning point in his career. Tao Jin starred in two movies, "Don't Forget" and "A River Flows Eastward", and became famous in one fell swoop.
These two works caused a huge sensation at the time, and Tao Jin's performances were so beloved by the audience that he quickly became one of the hottest movie stars of the time. In 1948, Tao Jin starred in the critically acclaimed film "Snow White Blood Red".
In the same year, he also co-founded the Great Wall Film Production Company and began to try his hand at behind-the-scenes work. During this period, Tao Jin's career was thriving, and he contributed wonderful performances in a series of excellent films such as "Eight Years", "Legend in the Mountains", "The Legend of the White Snake", "Blood and Tears", and further consolidated his star status.
In May 1950, Tao Jin ushered in another peak in his career. He co-starred with Huang Zongying in "The Poet Li Bai", which not only caused a sensation at the time, but also won Tao Jin more praise.
The image of Li Bai played by Tao Jin is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and he vividly shows the talent and boldness of the poet on the screen. It is worth mentioning that Tao Jin was 34 years old when he made this film, but he was still able to perfectly interpret the image of the young poet and show superb acting skills.
In 2005, Tao Jin was also selected into the list of 100 outstanding actors in the 100 years of Chinese films, which is another affirmation of his artistic achievements. While his career is thriving, Tao Jin's family life is also very happy.
His relationship with Poplar is stable, and the two children are growing up. Tao Jin's family background is relatively good, and he often takes the whole family out to play, trying to balance work and family life.
Tao Jin in this period is undoubtedly high-spirited and radiant. Every time he appeared on stage, he attracted countless cheers, and each of his works was enthusiastically sought after by the audience.
It was Tao Jin's most glorious golden age and the most memorable good time of his life. However, just when Tao Jin thought he had climbed to the top of his career, fate was secretly preparing another test.
In 1966, the shadow of the Cultural Revolution enveloped the whole of China. Tao Jin, the former film superstar, was not spared. During his participation in the movie "Wildfire Spring Breeze Fighting Ancient City", a political storm suddenly came.
Tao Jin was labeled "reactionary" for his performance in the film and was criticized. It was a suffocating summer. Tao Jin was pushed onto the stage, wearing a paper-paste top hat and a card with "Bull Ghost Snake God" written on his body.
The star who once fascinated thousands of viewers has now become the object of everyone's insults. Tao Jin lowered his head, his heart full of humiliation and incomprehension. Every day at the criticism meeting, he was forced to kneel on the stage and chant the slogan "I am a cow, a ghost, a snake and a god".
Subsequently, Tao Jin was sent to the "57" cadre school in Yingshan, Hubei Province for labor reform. The actor of the past now has to pick stones and chop wood day after day. The hard physical labor and mental torture made Tao Jin, who was already 50 years old, physically and mentally exhausted.
However, even in such a difficult situation, he still did not give up his love for acting. In his spare time, he quietly practises his lines, as if this allows him to forget the pain of reality for a while.
What makes Tao Jin's heart even more painful is that his family has not been spared the catastrophe. His wife, Poplar, was also imprisoned, and a pair of children were forcibly separated. What was once a warm and harmonious home is now shattered.
Poplar was held for 3 days without a drop of water to drink. The daughter Tao Huimin was sent to Guizhou, and the son was arranged to work at Guangdong TV. During these difficult years, Taugin experienced a heartbreaking scene.
One night, he saw his son sleeping next to him secretly crying, and the tears wet the pillow. At that moment, Tao Jin felt extremely sad and helpless. Even so, Tao Jin still stood by his beliefs.
He believes that one day, the truth will be revealed and he will return to the screen and show his talent again. This belief became the spiritual strength that sustained him through the difficult years.
In 1969, Tao Jin was sent to the "57" cadre school in Yingde, Guangdong Province to continue working. Looking at stones and planting vegetables every day, the 53-year-old is under tremendous physical and mental pressure. However, Taugin never gave up hope.
He even secretly wrote some poems during this period to express his inner feelings. In 1971, Tao Jin was finally allowed to return to the Yangtze River Film Studio. However, returning doesn't mean everything is back to normal.
He still has to wear the hat of a "rightist" and continue to accept criticism and reform. But for Tao Jin, it is already a great comfort to be able to return to the familiar film studio.
What happened during the Cultural Revolution left Tao Jin with psychological wounds that were difficult to heal. He was once high-spirited, but he became silent, and his eyes often showed deep sadness.
However, it is this experience that also makes Tao Jin's performance more profound and touching. He quietly integrates his suffering and thinking into every role in the future, and uses art to interpret the true meaning of life.
In 1971, with the political situation easing slightly, Tao Jin was finally allowed to return to the Yangtze River Film Studio. However, the road back to the screen has not been smooth. used to be an actor, but now he has to start from a supporting role, and even has to endure some people's doubts and cold eyes.
Tao Jin chose to continue filming "Wildfire Spring Breeze Fighting Ancient City", the film that brought him disaster. Every time he stood in front of the camera, his heart would be filled with waves. Those scenes of criticism and fighting seem to be right in front of you.
But Tao Jin knows that only by focusing on acting can he rediscover himself. On set, Taugin is always the first to arrive and the last to leave. He proved his professionalism and dedication with practical actions.
Slowly, people began to re-recognize the talent of the old artist. Tao Jin's eyes rekindled the light of hope. However, despite the turn for the better, Tao Jin's heart has never been able to truly let go.
Those who had criticized him, those words that had hurt him, were like a thorn in his heart. Taugin longed for an explanation, an apology, but he knew that it might never come.
A young man in his 30s who worked with Tao Jin recalled that although they were on the same crew, they did not dare to talk to Tao Jin. The atmosphere was still tense and people kept their distance from Taugin.
Tao Jin also sensed this alienation, but he chose to endure it in silence and focus on his performance. During this period, Tao Jin also directed several film and television works such as "Plum Blossom Scarf", "Red Maple Tree" and "Garden Dream".
Despite the difficult situation, he still maintained his love and dedication to art. In the 1980s, with the further improvement of the political environment, Tao Jin's performance once again gained widespread recognition.
The audience fell in love with the actor who had gone through the vicissitudes of life again. But only Tao Jin himself knows that behind the applause and praise, there is a wound that will never heal. Whenever he stood in the spotlight and accepted the cheers of the audience, there was always a voice inside him asking: Is it all worth it? Taugin had tried to find those who had criticized him, hoping for an explanation or apology.
However, his efforts did not meet the consequences. Despite this, Tao Jin still insisted on his artistic pursuit. During this period, he participated in many films such as "Fourteen Years", "Spring Miao", "Wildfire Spring Breeze Fighting Ancient City", and interpreted different roles with superb acting skills, winning the love of the audience and the respect of the industry.
Tao Jin's comeback road is not only a difficult journey, but also a process of re-proving his self-worth. Although there are still unsolved knots in his heart, he has regained the hearts of the audience with his professionalism and dedication to art.
In 1985, Taukin was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This bad news was like a bolt from the blue, and the body that was once flexible and easy now trembled uncontrollably. Tao Jin knows that his acting career is coming to an end.
Faced with the invasion of illness, Tao Jin began to look back on his life and think about the knots in his heart that could not be untied. He often fell into deep thought, remembering those who had criticized him, those words that had hurt him.
Deep down, how he wished he could sit down with them, talk calmly, and solve years of misunderstandings. However, time is running out. Tao Jin's wife, Bai Yang, and a pair of children are worried about his health.
They did their best to take care of Taugin, hoping to alleviate his pain. But only Tao Jin himself knew that compared to the physical pain, the unresolved knot in his heart was the most tormenting him.
In 1986, Tao Jin's condition deteriorated further. He was lying on the hospital bed, his eyes full of nostalgia for life and memories of the past. One day, an old friend came to visit him, and Tao Jin said weakly, "I have a knot in my heart that has not been untied."
However, he never waited for the long-awaited apology. On September 28, 1986, Tao Jin died in Guangzhou at the age of 70. At the end of his life, he still passed away with that unsolved knot.
This became the biggest regret of his life. Tao Jin's departure made the entire film industry mourn. People have reviewed his works and remembered the artist who made great contributions to Chinese cinema.
However, few people know that deep down in the heart of this great actor, there has always been a knot that cannot be resolved. Tao Jin's life has both brilliant achievements and deep regrets.
His story teaches us that even the most brilliant artists can die with unfulfilled wishes. This may be the true portrayal of life, full of light and regret.
After Tao Jin's death, his spiritual and artistic legacy lives on. His wife, Poplar, died in 2011 at the age of 94. As Tao Jin's companion and colleague during his lifetime, Bai Yang witnessed the glory and ups and downs of her husband, and also left her own mark on the road of art.
Tao Jin's daughter Tao Huimin inherited her father's mantle and became a well-known actor. She played the role of "Little Butterfly" in "Wildfire Spring Breeze Fighting Ancient City", continuing her father's artistic life.
Tao Jin's son chose to develop his career in Hong Kong, although he did not directly engage in acting work, but still worked hard in his field. Tao Jin's work is still celebrated today.
His performance in "Poet Li Bai" and his persistence in "Wildfire Spring Breeze Fighting Ancient City" have become classic clips in the history of Chinese cinema. These works not only show Tao Jin's superb acting skills, but also record the historical imprint of that special era.
Although Tao Jin is gone, the artistic legacy he left behind is still influencing generations of audiences and actors. His life experience, from glory to ups and downs, and finally to his comeback, has become a unique and profound chapter in the history of Chinese film.
Tao Jin's story teaches us to hold on to our dreams and beliefs, even in the toughest of times.