Liu Xiao Ling Tong

Liu Xiao Ling Tong (; pinyin: Lìu Xiǎo Líng Tóng) is the stage name of Zhang Jinlai (; pinyin: Zhāng Jīnlái), a famous Chinese actor who was known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Sun Wukong in the 1986 Journey to the West TV series.

Biography

Liu Xiao Ling Tong was born Zhang Jinlai (章金莱) on April 12, 1959 in Shanghai into a renowned artistic family. His family is one of two families with the most Peking Opera players specialized in performing Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West. His great-grandfather Zhang Tingchun was even considered "better than a living Monkey King".

Zhang Jinlai's great-grandfather mostly performed in the countryside of the Zhejiang Chinese province under the stage name "Sai Huo Hou", or "Better Than a Living Monkey". Zhang's grandfather moved to Shanghai and trained two sons. Zhang Jinlai's father, Zhang Songyi, stage named as Liu Ling Tong or "Six Years Old Kid", or famously known as "Nan Hou Wang" (the Southern Monkey King), indicating his age when he started to perform, was a famous Chinese opera player who was acclaimed by Chinese leaders including late Chairman Mao Zedong and premier Zhou Enlai. His specialty was Sun Wukong, gaining him the nickname "Monkey King of...
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