Zhang Jiqing

Zhang Jiqing
Born	Zhang Yiqing January 1938 Wuzhen, China
Nationality	Chinese nationality
Known for	Chinese opera
Spouse(s)	Yao Jikun
Awards	the 1st Plum Blossom Prize

Zhang Jiqing (Chinese: 张继青; pinyin: Zhāng Jìqīng), from the Jiangsu Province Kunju Troupe, is a Kunqu artist.

Zhang became an artist not because of her ambition but for living. After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, her grandmother, together with her mother and aunt left for Wuqing (乌青镇) to seek refuge when her mother happened to give birth to Zhang in 1938 at Wuqing, the hometown of many intellectuals, such as Sun Muxin (孙木心). Qing became a part of her alias "Yi qing" (忆青) named after the town of Wuqing.

Zhang’s grandfather was a "Sue Beach" (苏滩, Suzhou Tanhuang (Kun opera's sister art form)) artist. Her family used to form a "Zhang Jia Ban" (张家班, a group of people whose family names are all Zhang or the group founder's family name is Zhang), making a living by performing on the wharf. Zhang was imbued with what she had seen and heard when she was young, whereas her serious learning of opera only began at the age of 14.

Zhang Yiqing was first arranged the role of four operas in the New opera "Mandarin Duck Sword" (鸳鸯剑). One of Shanghai "Chuan Generation" (传字辈)—Zheng Chuanjian (郑传鉴) was invited to rehearse The Cowherd and The Weaving Maid (牛郎织女) and this was the first time that Zhang received influence from Kunqu predecessors.

In 1952, Zhang went to take care of her aunt who was in Shanghai’s Minfeng Troupe of Suzhou opera. Unexpectedly, seeking refuge with her aunt because of poverty, Zhang inadvertently began her life as an artist. Zhang Jiqing joined the Minfeng Troupe of Suzhou opera when she was 14 years old. She studied Suzhou opera and played Dan (Chinese opera) role in her early career life. Later, the Minfeng Troupe of Suzhou opera was settled in Suzhou in October, 1953. In March, 1954, You Caiyun, a famous expert of Kunqu in the last years of Qing Dynasty, was invited to the Minfeng Troupe of Suzhou opera to teach the "Ji Generation" (继字辈) about Kunqu. At the beginning of 1955, Zhang Jiqing played the leading role of two Korean operas, Legend of Chun Xiang (Chunhyangjeon)and Legend of Shen Qing. In addition, she played a role in a modern drama named Liu Hulan with her mother Zhang Huifen (She was also a Chinese opera actress.) from the Qingfeng Troupe of Suzhou opera after the two troupes were consolidated.

...
Wikipedia