桂名揚

简介

Gui Mingyang was born on October 22, 1909, in Nanhai County, Guangdong Province, with ancestral roots in Ningbo, Zhejiang. His original name was Gui Mingyang; his father Gui Dongyuan and uncle Gui Nanping were classical scholars of the late Qing Dynasty. He began studying drama at age 11 under a master who managed the "You Tian Ying" troupe, and he mastered the fundamentals excellently. He excelled in xiaowu (young warrior) roles, and after Ma Shizeng formed the "Da Luo Tian" troupe, he selected Gui Mingyang as the third xiaowu actor. Gui Mingyang uniquely blended the performance arts of Ma Shizeng and Xue Juexian into a style known as "Ma's form, Xue's voice." His portrayal of Zhao Zilong surpassed Ma Shizeng's in both dignity and grace. His performances featured distinct cadence, powerful presence, and tight rhythm, and he created a new entrance technique called "luo bian gun hua," using intense percussion music combined with entry movements, which became a standard Cantonese opera convention. In 1931, he led the "Da Zhong Hua" troupe on a successful tour of the United States, where the An Liang Tang in New York awarded him a 14-tael gold medal inscribed "Famous Across the Four Seas," making him the first Cantonese opera male performer to receive a gold medal in America. Returning from America in 1932, he co-founded the "Sun, Moon, and Stars" troupe with Liao Jiahui, Zeng Sanduo, and Chen Jintang, which was warmly received by audiences from its debut. Many prominent performers such as Lu Haitian, Liang Yintang, and Xiao Ying trained under him, and he was known for his strict demands on his disciples. On October 26, 1957, he moved from Hong Kong to Guangzhou with his youngest son Gui Zhongchuan and his 12-year-old apprentice Zhong Huifang. That same evening he attended Ma Shizeng's performance of "The Temperamental Young Master." On October 28, the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Troupe held a welcome meeting attended by Ma Shizeng, Hong Xianü, and others. After relocating, Gui Mingyang served as artistic director, guiding rehearsals and preparing his classic works from over 30 years of performance. He lived at the home of his adopted daughter, the Cantonese opera actress Liu Meiqing (original name Gui Meibao). Suffering from tuberculosis, heart disease, and stomach ailments for many years, he was hospitalized for treatment after his move and passed away on June 15, 1958, at 9:45 PM at the Guangdong Cadre Sanatorium due to tuberculosis, aged 49. A funeral committee comprising leading performers and cultural officials was formed, and his funeral was held on June 17, 1958, at 11 AM.