Jin Xing

Jin Xing (born August 13, 1967) is a ballerina, modern dancer, choreographer and actress from the People's Republic of China, and owner of the contemporary dance company "Shanghai Jin Xing Dance Theatre". Although usually credited as Jing Xing, the proper pinyin spelling is Jin Xing. She is one of the first few transwoman officially recognized by the Chinese government.

Born as a male in Shenyang to ethnic Korean parents, Jin studied in a local Korean elementary school. Her father worked in the police department. She was praised as highly intelligent, and had won abacus contests many times (Levey). She expressed high enthusiasm in dance performance. At the age of 9 she joined the People's Liberation Army to receive dance and military training (Levey; Li); she became a member of the military's dance troupe, and eventually attained the rank of colonel. She experienced strong transsexual desires early in life. She said she would stay outside during rain, and wish that a lightning strike would turn her body female (Levey). Later she won the national dance contest with a piece of Central Asian ethnic dance.

1987, Jin went to New York to study modern dance for four years, and then traveled and performed in Europe, and taught dance in Rome from 1991 to 1993, followed by a world tour, and returned to China at the age of 26 (Jin). She underwent sex reassignment surgery in 1996 (Li). Her left leg was paralyzed for a while after the surgery (Levey). After the recovery she went to Shanghai to choreograph and train students. At the age of 33 she adopted a son. She now lives with her three adopted children and her German husband in Shanghai.

Works

Jin Xing's works are "startlingly original and provocative" (Li). These include "The Imperial Concubine Has Been Drunk for Ages" ("Guifei zui jiu", an adaptation of the famous Peking opera title) and "Cross Border–Crossing the Line" ("Cong dong dao xi", a co-operation with British pianist Joanna MacGregor).

Her film debut was in the Korean movie "Resurrection of the Little Match Girl" in 2002. In 2005, she appeared in the Thai movie "Tom-Yum-Goong" as the villain Madam Rose. She later participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007.

Quotes

* [Talking about Shanghai] "This city is a completely female city. Female town. Beijing is male. All rough and politics. Shanghai is more delicate. Money talks. Beautiful. I had enough rough. I need details. Specially because [I am] a lady. I need city."

* "Some people complain about system: system is not good, they can't do anything. It's excuse. Freedom is in your heart."

* "Until the last minute, I'm closing my eyes and saying goodbye to human life or I will continue to fantasize. It made me happy. That's my life: Fantasy."

[Originally spoken in English. Roughly dictated from "Colonel Jin Xing: A Unique Destiny".]

References

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*cite video|people=Sylvie Levey et al.|title=Colonel Jin Xing: A Unique Destiny. [Documentary film] |location=New York, NY|publisher=Filmakers Library|year=2002
*cite book|first=Seth|last=Faison|title=South of the Clouds: Exploring the Hidden Realms of China|location=New York, NY|publisher=St. Martin's Press|date=2004
* Li, Ruru. "Jin Xing." Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture. New York: Routledge. 2005. ISBN 0-415-24129-4

External links

* [http://sunsetpresse.fr/film_e.php?id=3 Documentary: "Colonel Jin Xing : A Unique Destiny"]
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