Ma Ji (; 2 August 1934 – 20 December 2006), born Ma Shuhuai (), was a Chinese
xiangsheng comedian. He was one of his generation's most popular and influential xiangsheng performers and was mentor to many younger performers. His disciples include
Jiang Kun, Zhao Yan, Liu Wei,
Feng Gong, Xiaolin, Wang Qianxiang, Li Zengrui, Han Lancheng, Liu Xiyao, Peng Ziyi, Yin Zhuolin, Yao Xinguang, Zhao Longjun, Xing Yingying, Liu Lixin, and Hou Guannan.
Biography
Ma Ji was born in
Tianjin on 2 August 1934. After the
Communists took over mainland China, Ma started to work in Xinhua bookstore. He joined the
Central Broadcasting Recitation and Ballad Troupe
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known ...
as a professional xiangsheng performer in 1956. He studied under
Hou Baolin
Hou Baolin (; November 29, 1917 – February 4, 1993) was a Chinese xiangsheng performer. He was one of his generation's most popular and influential xiangsheng performers and was mentor to many later xiangsheng performers. His apprentices includ ...
and became a seventh-generation xiangsheng performer. He got his stage name Ma Ji from the film ''
Mattie the Goose-boy (1950 film)'', which is based on the
poem of the same name by
Mihály Fazekas
Mihály Fazekas (6 January 1766 – 23 February 1828) was a Hungarian writer from Debrecen. He was an army private for seven years before being commissioned as a Hussar officer. As a hobby, Fazekas studied the natural sciences (botany) and w ...
.
As a notable xiangsheng master and performer, Ma Ji created his own art style and made great contributions to China's Xiangsheng art.
In the mid to late 1980s, together with his disciple Zhao Yan, he frequently travelled to
Singapore on performance tours and proved to be very popular there as well.
Ma Ji was also a member of the 5th
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, zh, 中国人民政治协商会议), also known as the People's PCC (, ) or simply the PCC (), is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of ...
.
Famous works
#"Ode to Mountain Climbers"
#"The Portrait"
#"Dispute of the Five Sense Organ
#Performed with many comedians together in “Five Officers Contend for Fame
Dialogues
#Ode to Friendship
#Storm on the State
#Multistory Restauran
Monlogues
#“The Universal Brand Cigarette” playing a cigarette salesman with a bad product and satirizing newly rich Chinese preoccupation with brand name
Death
Ma Ji died on 20 December 2006 at
Beijing, China
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Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
. The cause of his death was
myocardial infarction. His death, of a heart attack, was reported by
Chinese Central Television (CCTV). He is survived by his son, Ma Dong.
Xiangsheng master Ma Ji dies at the age of 72 (馬季去世，享年72歲)
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References
External links
Ma Ji, Chinese comedian famed for satirical sketches, dies at 72
The Associated Press via the International Herald Tribune
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ma, Ji
1934 births
2006 deaths
Chinese male stage actors
Chinese xiangsheng performers
Male actors from Tianjin
People's Republic of China politicians from Tianjin
20th-century comedians