Wu Zhaonan

Wu Zhaonan (Chinese: 吳兆南; Wade–Giles: Wu Chao-nan; 14 January 1926 – 14 October 2018) was a Taiwanese xiangsheng comedian officially recognized by the government of Taiwan as a "national treasure". He was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lincoln Center and the Golden Melody Award for Lifetime Contributions. Before becoming a comedian, he ran a food stall in Taipei where he created and popularized the dish Mongolian barbecue.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wu.
Wu Zhaonan
Wu Zhaonan in 2012.
Born(1926-01-14)14 January 1926
Beijing, Republic of China
Died14 October 2018(2018-10-14) (aged 92)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of China
OccupationXiangsheng comedian
Years active1951–2018
Children1
AwardsLifetime Achievement Award from the Lincoln Center
Golden Melody Award for Lifetime Contributions
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese吳兆南
Simplified Chinese吴兆南

Creation of Mongolian barbecue
Wu created the popular dish Mongolian barbecue before he became a comedian.

Wu was born in Beijing, Republic of China, on 14 January 1926. He graduated from the University of China with a degree in economics.[1][2]

He fled to Taiwan when the Communist Party took over mainland China, and opened a street food stall in Yingqiao, Taipei in 1951, where he created the popular dish Mongolian barbecue.[3][4][5] He originally wanted to call the dish "Beijing barbecue", but because of political sensitivity with the city, which had just recently been designated as the capital of Communist China, he settled with "Mongolian barbecue" instead, even though it had no direct connection with Mongolia.[5]

Wu's food stall became very popular, and even attracted foreign diplomats and wealthy businesspeople as customers despite being a cheap eatery. However, it was later destroyed by flooding during a typhoon, in which Wu nearly drowned.[5] When he exited the restaurant business to develop his xiangsheng career, numerous imitators emerged to capitalize on the popularity of the dish he created, which was later also introduced to the West.[5]

Xiangsheng career

Wu began performing xiangsheng in 1951 and later exited the restaurant business as his popularity grew. Performing on radio and on stage, he became one of the most famous xiangsheng actors in Taiwan. He frequently partnered with Wei Lung-hao, and their radio show became an iconic memory in Taiwan.[1][3]

Wu moved to the United States in 1973, where he continued to perform xiangsheng as well as Peking opera. He also developed a brand of beef jerky.[1] In 1983, the xiangsheng master Hou Baolin took him as a disciple, inducting him into the formal lineage of the art.[1] Wu trained many students of his own, notably Hou Guanqun, Lang Tzu-yun, Liu Tseng-kai, Liu Erjin, and Fan Kuang-yao.[6] Lang Tzu-yun founded the performing arts troupe Spring Sun, for which Wu has written.[7][8]

Wu received many awards including the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, the Xinchuan Award (薪傳獎) of Taiwan and the Outstanding Artist of Asia Award.[1] In 2009, Wu was given the Golden Melody Award for lifetime contributions,[9] which was followed by an honor bestowed at the first Taipei City Master of Traditional Arts Awards ceremony in 2010.[10] The government of Taiwan formally named him a "living national treasure" in 2011.[11][12]

Personal life

He was married until his wife's death in 2009.[12][13] They had one son, Wu Manyu.[14]

On 14 October 2018, Wu Zhaonan died from multiple organ failure in Los Angeles, California, aged 92.[3] A memorial service was held at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei on 2 November, which was attended by many dignitaries including Ma Ying-jeou, Hung Hsiu-chu and Jason Hu, as well as Wu's disciples including Lang Tzu-yun and Liu Erjin.[15]

References
  1. "Three Degrees of Togetherness". University of California, Los Angeles. 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  2. 相聲大師吳兆南93歲辭世　鄭麗君哀悼：永遠的相聲國寶. ETToday (in Chinese). 14 October 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. Chang, Eddy (1 November 2018). "Ceremony to be held honoring late crosstalk master Wu Zhao-nan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  4. Chang, Eddy (24 July 2014). "Restaurant review: Genghis Khan Mongolian Bar-B-Q". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  5. Liang Fengrong 梁峰榮 (13 December 2012). 呷台灣／吳兆南發明的蒙古烤肉 蒙古吃不到. Xin News. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  6. Li Jiaying 李家穎 (14 October 2018). 享壽93歲 相聲大師吳兆南驚傳離世. China Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  7. Lee, Vico (26 September 2003). "Sex and the Taipei City connection". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  8. Buchan, Noah (27 June 2008). "Not so apt pupils". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  9. Ho Yi (30 June 2009). "Golden Melody presents awards for artistic and traditional music". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. Mo, Yan-chih (11 April 2010). "City government honors traditional folk arts masters". Taipei Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  11. "Eight to receive awards". Taipei Times. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  12. "'Crosstalk' icon honored". Taipei Times. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  13. 相聲大師吳兆南「洛杉磯住家辭世」　享壽93歲. ETToday (in Chinese). 13 October 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  14. "相聲大師吳兆南 10月27日玫瑰岡墓園公祭". World Journal (in Chinese). 25 October 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  15. Wang Yanjun (王彥鈞) (2 November 2018). 影／相聲大師吳兆南追思會 馬英九獻花. United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 6 November 2018.
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