Chin Tsi-ang

Chin Tsi-ang
Chin Tsi-Ang
Chinese name 錢似鶯 (Traditional)
Chinese name 钱似莺 (Simplified)
Born February 22, 1909(1909-02-22)
Shanghai, China
Died October 15, 2007(2007-10-15) (aged 98)
Hong Kong
Years active 1930–2000
Spouse(s) Hung Chung Ho
Children 7

Chin Tsi-Ang (simplified Chinese: 钱似莺; traditional Chinese: 錢似鶯; pinyin: Qián Sìyīng) (February 22, 1909 – October 15, 2007), also Chin Tsi-(H)ang and Chi Chi-Ang, was one among the earliest martial-arts actors of the Chinese film industry, and the first female star.[1] She debuted in Dream of South China (南华梦) in 1925 at the age of 16,[2] and played a leading role in The Lady Swordfighter of Jiang-Nan (江南女侠, Jiangnan Nüxia) in 1930.[3][4][5]

Biography

Chin was born and raised in Shanghai. When she was an infant, her parents were told by a fortune-teller that in order to avoid an early death, she would have to be brought up like a boy. She was therefore permitted to engage in activities usually reserved for males, although her gender sometimes had to be disguised. She began martial arts training at the age of 8,[6] later going on to perform all of her own stunts as well as choreograph scenes.

She married director Hung Chung-Ho, with whom she had seven children (one of her grandchildren is Sammo Hung), and having become a star in Shanghai, they moved to Hong Kong, where they formed the Sanxing Film Company, which specialized in wuxia and produced the first Fong Sai-Yuk film in 1938.[7] It existed until 1963, when the Chinese government requisitioned its properties.[8] Her husband died not long afterwards. She largely retired from filmmaking at this time, although she has since appeared in cameo roles, one of the most recent being in Kar Wai Wong's In the Mood for Love at age 90.

Chin died in Hong Kong on October 15, 2007.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Cynthia Rothrock: The Queen of Martial Arts Films.
  2. ^ (Chinese) Chin Tsi-Ang Died, Beijing Youth Daily (北京青年报), October 21, 2007.
  3. ^ (Chinese) Chin Tsi-Ang died in Hong Kong, Tom.com, October 22, 2007.
  4. ^ (Chinese) Chin Tsi-Ang Died, Xinjiang Daily October 23, 2007.
  5. ^ (Chinese) Chin Tsi-Ang Died, Guangzhou Daily, October 22, 2007.
  6. ^ The Hong Kong Actor Index.
  7. ^ In the Mood for Love
  8. ^ THE CHEWER COLUMN #5
  9. ^ (Chinese) Chin Tsi-ang Died, NetEase, October 21, 2007.

External links


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