Tang Wing-Cheung (; 20 June 1916 – 20 April 1997), better known by his stage name Sun Ma Sze Tsang (), was a
Cantonese opera
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Guangdong Province. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Like all versions of Ch ...
singer and actor in Hong Kong.
Career
Born in
Shunde
Shunde District, also known as Shuntak, is a district of the city of Foshan, Guangdong province, located in the Pearl River Delta. It had a population of 2,464,784 as of the 2010 census. Once a traditional agricultural county, it has become one ...
, Guangdong, China, his parents divorced when he was eight. His father, Tang Kei, was a gambling and Cantonese opera addict. He moved to Hong Kong with his mother, Lo Lin, after she had divorced his father. His mother worked as a maid and was often bullied. Tang later left home to learn Cantonese opera.
Tang impressed the Cantonese opera industry by his stunning performance that resembled
Ma Sze-Tsang, a famous Cantonese opera singer. His teacher gave him the stagename Sun Ma Sze Tsang, meaning 'New Ma Sze-Tsang'. Sun Ma Sze Tsang became very famous for his singing technique. He later became pupils of
Sit Kok-Sin
Sit commonly refers to sitting.
Sit, SIT or Sitting may also refer to:
Places
* Sit (island), Croatia
* Sit, Bashagard, a village in Hormozgan Province, Iran
* Sit, Gafr and Parmon, a village in Hormozgan Province, Iran
* Sit, Minab, a villa ...
,
Kai Chiao-tien and other famous Chinese opera singers in Shanghai. From then on his career flourished and he went on to become a film star, while continuing to perform in Cantonese operas. His film debut was in 1936.
Scientists wanted to study his skeleton to understand how people with a small frame like him could hit ultra-high notes. Sun Ma Sze Tsang refused when he was alive, and his family never approved of it.
Charity
Sun was a charitable man who had attended the
Tung Wah Charity Show
Tung Wah Charity Show ( Chinese: 歡樂滿東華) is a long-running charity television show raising funds for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Hong Kong which started in 1979. It is organised by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) annually on a Sa ...
for many years, performing his hits like ''Man Ok Yan Wai Shou'', ''
Emperor Kuang-hsu Mourns
Consort Zhen
Imperial Noble Consort Keshun (27 February 1876 – 15 August 1900), of the Manchu Bordered Red Banner Tatara clan, was a consort of the Guangxu Emperor. She was five years his junior. She was known to foreigners as the Pearl Concubine. Legend ...
''. His performances garnered huge amount of donations and were seen by
TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and ...
, the largest Hong Kong TV station, as the most important performance in the Tung Wah Charity Show. He, therefore, gained the nickname of 'King of Charitable Opera' in Hong Kong.
Honorary professorship and honour
Sun Ma Sze Tsang was appointed, in 1977, an honorary professor of the
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
. In 1978, he was made a
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(MBE).
Death
Sun Ma Sze Tsang suffered from
bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...
and heart diseases. There is an rumour that he was the only man in Hong Kong who had a special license to smoke opium since the 20th century. Sun Ma Sze Tsang died in hospital on 20 April 1997 at 8:30 pm after staying in hospital for 109 days. After his death, his sons, including TVB artiste Johnny Tang, fought a court battle with their birth mother, Hong Kam-Mui, over their father's assets.
External links
HK cinemagic entry*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sun Ma Sze Tsang
Hong Kong male Cantonese opera actors
Hong Kong male film actors
1916 births
1997 deaths
People from Foshan
Male actors from Guangdong
Members of the Kuomintang
20th-century Hong Kong male actors
20th-century Chinese male singers
Chinese male film actors
20th-century Hong Kong male singers
20th-century Chinese male actors
Chinese emigrants to British Hong Kong