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Bamboos

1600 Printed Portrait of the Artist

Xu Wei (Chinese: 徐渭; pinyin: Xú Wèi; Wade–Giles: Hsü Wei, 1521—1593) was a Ming Chinese painter, poet, writer and dramatist famed for his artistic expressiveness.^[1] Revolutionary for its time, his painting style influenced and inspired countless subsequent painters, such as Bada Shanren, the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, and the modern masters Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi.^[2] Qi once exclaimed in a poem that "How I wish to be born 300 years earlier so I could grind ink and prepare paper for Green Vine ( A Xu Wei pen name)" (恨不生三百年前，為青藤磨墨理紙). Xu Wei can be considered as the founder of modern painting in China. His influence continues to exert itself. Despite his posthumous recognition, Xu was manifestly mentally ill^[1] and unsuccessful in life, ending his life in poverty after the murder of his third wife and several attempts at suicide.

His style names were Wenqing (文清)and then later Wenchang (文長). His pseudonyms were The Mountain-man of the Heavenly Pond (天池山人 Tiānchí Shānrén), Daoist of the Green Vine House (青藤道士 Qīngténg Dàoshì) and The Water and Moon of the Bureau's Farm (署田水月 Shǔtián Shuǐ Yuè).^[1] Born in Shanyin (山阴 - now Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province),^[1] Xu was raised by a single mother who died when he was 14. At 21, he married Pan-shi (潘氏), who died five years later. Though he passed the county civil examination at age 20, Xu was never able to pass the provincial civil service examinations, even after attempting it eight times.^[3] Nevertheless, Xu was employed by General Hu Zongxian (胡宗憲), Supreme Commander of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Fujian coastal defense against the wokou (倭寇) Japanese pirates.^[1]

Chrysanthemums and Bamboos (菊竹图), Xu Wei, Liaoning Museum

After General Hu was arrested and lost his position, Xu Wei also feared a negative fate for himself. Xu became mentally distraught at this juncture, attempting to commit suicide nine times, such as by axeing himself in the skull and drilling both of his ears. His mental imbalance led to his killing of his second wife Zhang-shi (張氏)^[3] after becoming paranoid that she was having an affair. As a punishment for committing this murder, he was jailed for seven years^[3] until his friend Zhang Yuanbian (張元忭) from the Hanlin Imperial Academy managed to free him at age of 53. It is possible Xu Wei suffered from Bipolar Disorder, a condition actually recognized in China at this time. Xu spent the rest of his life painting, but with little financial success. However, his paintings have been highly sought after in modern times.

Xu was also a playwright, authoring the following four plays: The Heroine Mulan Goes to War in Her Father's Place (雌木蘭 Ci Mulan): describes Hua Mulan, A Female Degree Holder (女狀元 Nüzhuangyuan): The Adventures of the Intelligent Huang Chongjia (黃崇嘏), The History of the Mad Drum (狂鼓史 Kuanggu Shi): crimes of Cao Cao, and A Zen Master's Dream of the Land of Green Jade (翠鄉夢 Cuixiang Meng): a Buddhist story. Interestingly, Xu's dramatic efforts often deal with women's themes and Xu can be regarded as something of an early women's rights advocate.

Xu Wei was also a poet in shi style of considerable note. Xu's collected works in 30 chapters exists with a commentary by the late Ming writer Yuan Hongdao. Yuan Hongdao and the others of his literary movement were undoubtedly influenced by the writings of Xu. Of the various arts Xu Wei practised, he held his calligraphy in highest esteem. Next was his poetry. A modern typeset edition of Xu Wei's collected works, Xu Wei ji, was published by the Zhonghua Publishing House in Beijing in 1983. Previously a 17th century edition of his collected works known as the Xu Wenchang sanji was reproduced in Taiwan in 1968. In 1990 a book length study of Xu Wei by Xu Wei can be seen as the quintessential “scholar in cotton clothes” or buyi wenren, a scholar who could not pass the civil service examination, yet became active in the realm of literature and cultural achievement. Many such individuals appeared in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and attached themselves to successful officials or became independent in late Ming China.

Grapes (葡萄), Xu Wei, Palace Museum

References[link]

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (May 2009)

• Liang and Goodrich in Goodrich and Fang, Dictionary of Ming Biography 1368-1644, Columbia University Press, New York, 1976, vol. 1, pp. 609–612.
• Bruce E. Carpenter, "Cruelty and Genius: Poems of Hsü Wei", Tezukayama University Review (Tezukayama Daigaku Ronshu), Nara, Japan, 1979, no. 26, pp. 16–36. ISSN 0385-7743
• Yu Jianhua and Chen Sunglin, A Complete Collection of Chinese Paintings (Zhongguo huihua chuanji) Zhejiang Peoples' Art Press, 2000, vol. 15, pp. 1–51.
• Ma Liangchun and Li Futian, Encyclopedia of Chinese Literature, vol. 7, p. 4904.
• Shen Moujian, Encyclopedia of Chinese Artists (Zhongguo meishu jia renming cidian), Shanghai, p. 73.
• Zhang Xinjian, A Preliminary Study of Xu Wei (Xu Wei lungao), Wenhua yishu Publishing Co., Beijing, 1990.
• Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui (辞海编辑委员会）. Ci hai （辞海）. Shanghai: Shanghai ci shu chu ban she （上海辞书出版社）, 1979.
• Barnhart, R. M. et al. (1997). Three thousand years of Chinese painting. New Haven, Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-07013-6

External links[link]

• Xu Wei's Calligraphy and Painting Gallery at China Online Museum

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Xu Wei

Wan Quan (1495–1585) was a famous Ming Dynasty pediatrician. He was the third in his family to practice medicine. He advocated that children be frequently exposed to sunlight and fresh air and trained to resist cold. He also believed that frightening a child was harmful to him or her, as was overfeeding or overmedicating.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://www.itmonline.org/arts/rehm6.htm
• http://clearharmony.net/articles/200305/12085.html

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Ariel Lin
Ariel Lin in 2010
Chinese name	林依晨
Pinyin	Lín Yī Chén (Mandarin)
Origin	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born	(1982-10-29) 29 October 1982 (age 29) Taipei, Taiwan
Other name(s)	Lin I Chen
Occupation	Actress, Singer
Genre(s)	Mandopop
Label(s)	Avex Taiwan (2009–present)
Years active	2002–present
Official Website	Ariel Lin's official website
Awards Golden Bell Awards 43rd Best Leading Actress in a Television Series 2008 They Kiss Again

Ariel Lin (Chinese: 林依晨; pinyin: Lín Yī Chén; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm I-sîn, Hakka: Lim Yi Sen) was born 29 October 1982. She is a Taiwanese actress and singer, who won Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the 43rd Golden Bell Awards. She majored in Korean and Literature at National Chengchi University, Taiwan.^[1]

Career[link]

Acting[link]

Lin was first discovered in a Taiwanese variety show Guess Guess Guess and was the champion of the pretty subway girl contest in the show. She was paired with Mike He in the television drama series Love Contract. After starring in several television roles in Taiwanese dramas and two films during the early 2000s, she rose to fame in 2005 for her role as Yuan Xiangqin in It Started With a Kiss. Lin was also praised for her work in Tokyo Juliet (2004) as Lin Laisui with Wu Chun and Simon Yam. Her performances in The Little Fairy (2005) as The Seventh Fairy Maiden and The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2008) as Huang Rong brought her increased popularity in Mainland China. In October 2008, Lin won Best Leading Actress in a Television Series for They Kiss Again at the 43rd Golden Bell Awards.^[2] In 2008, she reunited with Joe Cheng, her co-star for It Started With a Kiss and They Kiss Again, in Love or Bread.

In November 2008, Lin was confirmed to play Kyōko along side Jerry Yan as Tsuruga Ren, in a live-adaption of Japanese shōjo manga Skip Beat! (スキップ・ビート!, Sukippu Bīto!^?) by Yoshiki Nakamura, titled Extravagant Challenge (Chinese: 華麗的挑戰; pinyin: Hua Li De Tiao Zhan).^[3] However the production was postponed indefinitely^[4] and subsequently re-cast.

In April 2011, Lin is scheduled to film a Gala Television (GTV) production, titled In Time with You (Chinese: 我可能不會愛你), co-starring Bolin Chen and directed by Chu Yu-ning (瞿友寧)^[5]

Music[link]

As a singer, Lin has recorded a number of songs since the mid-2000s, many of which are featured in her television series.

In May 2009, she signed a three-year, three-album contract with Avex Taiwan. Her debut album, titled Blissful Encounter, was released on 10 July 2009. The first music video of the first lead track "甜蜜花園" (Sweet Garden) was released in mid-June and music video for the second lead track "螢火蟲" (Firefly), was released in early July. It features appearances by Donghae and Siwon of Korean boy band Super Junior. Her second solo album, A Wonderful Journey was released in 2010.

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

Television[link]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Others[link]

Books[link]

• Ariel Lin's New York Bagel Diary (林依晨的紐約貝果日記 Lín Yīchén de Niǔ Yuē bèiguǒ rìjì) March 2008
• Ariel's Blog (林家女孩依晨的青春部落格 Lín jiā nǚhái Yīchén de qīngchūn bùluògé) 2005
• Ariel's A wonderful Journey" (美好的旅行) August 2010

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• (Chinese) (English) Ariel Lin's official website
• Ariel Lin at the Internet Movie Database
• (Chinese) Ariel Lin@Avex Taiwan

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

Joe Cheng
Joe Cheng at 2008 Taipei International Book Exhibition They Kiss Again autograph event
Chinese name	鄭元暢 (Traditional)
Chinese name	郑元畅 (Simplified)
Pinyin	Zhèng Yuánchàng (Mandarin)
Origin	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born	(1982-06-19) 19 June 1982 (age 30) Taichung, Taiwan
Other name(s)	Joe Cheng, 小綜 (Xiǎo Zōng)
Occupation	model, Actor , Singer,
Genre(s)	Mandopop
Label(s)	Avex Taiwan (2009–present)
Years active	2003–present
Official Website	http://www.joesfamily.com.tw/

Joseph Cheng, also known as Joe Cheng, (traditional Chinese: 鄭元暢; simplified Chinese: 郑元畅; pinyin: Zhèng Yuánchàng) was born on 19 June 1982. He is a Taiwanese model, actor and singer. Although he started his career as a model, Cheng is well known for his role as Jiang Zhishu in Taiwanese drama serial version of Japanese manga Itazura Na Kiss, It Started with a Kiss. Cheng has gained much recognition as an actor in most parts of Asia, particularly Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines and Japan. Cheng released his debut EP, Sing a Song, in October 2009. The title of the EP as well as its title track is a play on the third word in his name, Chang (暢) as a homophone of the word “Sing” (唱) in Chinese.

Early life[link]

Joe Cheng, who was previously (prior to 2005) known as Bryan Cheng, grew up in Beitun District, Taichung, Taiwan. Since his parents’ divorce when he was in primary school, he has lived with his father. He also has an elder sister, who lives with their mother. Cheng has once professed that his parents’ divorce influenced his lack of faith in love and made him rather embarrassed by his mother’s absence as a child.

Acting career[link]

Cheng began his career in the entertainment industry with Catwalk Modelling Agency. He reportedly achieved success as a model within one year of signing on and is currently still under the management of the company. Cheng is based in Taiwan and also counts China, Hong Kong and Japan as his main target markets.

As a model, Cheng was featured in several music videos, including one of Heavenly King Jacky Cheung's. In 2003, he took on the role of the second male lead in The Rose, a Taiwanese drama serial which also starred Taiwanese girl band S.H.E. and renowned actress Cecilia Yip. It was this role that kick-started his acting career. Following his rising popularity and the success of his first acting role, Cheng was asked to make a guest appearance as Lucifer in Taiwanese boyband Energy’s first-ever idol drama, Dance with Michael, in the same year. Cheng starred as the main lead in two dramas, Nine-ball and Magic Ring in 2004. Although these two serials achieved lukewarm success, Cheng took the role of the main lead in It Started with a Kiss in the following year. This serial achieved high ratings in Taiwan and was popular with audiences throughout Asia. Cheng’s popularity rose tremendously as a result. It Started with a Kiss was also Cheng’s first collaboration with actress Ariel Lin. The two, who are often touted as one of Taiwan’s most compatible on-screen couples, paired up again in the 2007 sequel to It Started with a Kiss, They Kiss Again; as well as Love or Bread (2008) which is unrelated to the Kiss series. Cheng has starred in numerous drama serials produced in Taiwan,China and Japan, but remains most well known for his roles in The Rose and the Kiss series.

As a model, Cheng has modelled for several big-name brands including Puma AG (2003–2005) and adidas (2006–present). He has starred in numerous runway shows for brands such as Marc Jacob’s (2003), Timberland, Levi’s and Christian Dior (2007) He often also appears at flagship store openings including Hugo Boss (2009). Cheng also endorses several food, jewellery and clothing brands; the most recent being Chinese green tea brand Kang Shifu (for which Cheng starred and recorded a song with Mike He and Taiwanese actress Joe Chen) as well as casual wear brand N+a (with Taiwanese singer-actress Cyndi Wang). He also worked as a spokesperson for Shiatzy Chen.

Excluding drama serial memorabilia, Cheng has released three pictorial books in addition to four calendars and one mini pictorial in conjunction with the release of his EP in 2009. He has also authored two books and co-authored another on his hometown Taichung. He was also featured in a 2006 book on Catwalk Modelling Agency.

Cheng has won multiple awards as a model and as a performing artiste. The most notable include one at the Asia Model Festival Awards 2009, in which he won the Asia Special Award.

Cheng, together with Sylvia Chang and Mike He, was appointed as an ambassador for World Vision in December 2009.

Music career[link]

2009 was a quiet year for the television star, who spent the year busy with his theatre debut, Design for Living, starring opposite stage veterans Sylvia Chang and David Wang, under the directorship of Hong Kong stage director Edward Lam. The troupe made several sell-out shows in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Singapore. Cheng said that it has always been one of his goals to star in a stage play and was very honoured to have been able to star in the same production as Sylvia Chang. In the same year he also released his first EP, Sing a Song. Cheng is known by his friends in the industry as one who loves to sing. Album sales were fair and the EP topped certain charts in Taiwan but Cheng failed to convince music critics of the industry. Much to the dismay of his fans, Cheng did not star in any drama series in 2009.

In addition to his entertainment career, Cheng is completing his part-time university studies in tourism management at Hsing Wu College. As all males in Taiwan have to enlist for National Service, Cheng is due to enlist as soon as he completes his education.

In 2010 Cheng represented Taiwan and performed at the 7th Asia Song Festival, organised by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, at the Seoul Olympic Stadium.^[1]

Filmography[link]

Television series[link]

^{[2] [3]}

Music videos[link]

• 2003 - 葉子" (Leaf) - The Rose OST by Ah San (阿桑)
• Bu Chao Bu Nao (不吵不鬧)- Landy 溫嵐
• Ji Ta Shou (吉他手)- 陳綺貞
• Gift - Jacky Cheung
• Leaf/Ye Zi - A Sun
• E Zuo Ju (It Started With a Kiss OST) - Wang Lan Yin
• Bu Si Xin (Unwilling to Give Up) - Joe Cheng
• Sing a Song (Chang Yi Shou Ge) - Joe Cheng

Discography[link]

Books[link]

• Yuan Wei Chang Kuai《元味暢快》(2005)
• Always Smile 《籃球偶像事件簿》(2003)
• My Color My Style 《我型我色——鄭元暢配色寶典》(2003)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joe Cheng

• (Chinese) Joe Cheng's site
• (Chinese) Joe Cheng@Avex Taiwan
• (Chinese) Profile at Catwalk Modeling Agency

Rainie Yang
Rainie Yang 2010
Chinese name	楊丞琳 (Traditional)
Chinese name	杨丞琳 (Simplified)
Pinyin	Yáng Chénglín (Mandarin)
Birth name	Lily Yang
Origin	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born	(1984-06-04) 4 June 1984 (age 28) Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation	Singer, Actress, Host
Genre(s)	Mandopop
Instrument(s)	Electric Piano
Voice type(s)	Mezzo Soprano
Label(s)	Sony Music Taiwan (2005–present)
Years active	2000–present
Associated acts	4 in Love (2000–2002)
Official Website	Rainie Yang@Sony Music Taiwan
Awards Golden Bell Awards 45th Best Leading Actress in a Television Series 2010 Hi My Sweetheart

Rainie Yang (traditional Chinese: 楊丞琳; simplified Chinese: 杨丞琳; pinyin: Yáng Chénglín; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Iû Sêng-lîm), born June 4th, 1984, is a Taiwanese singer who has won multiple awards, Golden Bell Awards actress and talk show host.

Career[link]

Yang began her career in 2000, as a member of Taiwanese quartet girl group 4 in Love, where she was given the stage name of Rainie, matching the weather theme of each member. The group's popularity in the music industry was mediocre and they achieved limited success.^[1] After the group disbanded in 2002, Yang continued to pursue a career in the entertainment industry as a TV host, hosting shows such as "Guess Guess Guess" variety show. After playing supporting roles in several Taiwanese dramas, including the Meteor Garden, she landed the lead role, as Qi Yue, in the CTV drama Devil Beside You opposite Mike He in 2005. Devil Beside You was well received, allowing Yang's career to take off. The same year, she released her debut album, My Intuition, featuring her hit "曖昧" (Intuition) as the theme song of Devil Beside You and 理想情人" (Ideal Lover) as an insert songs of Devil Beside You.

In 2006, she released her follow-up album, Meeting Love, which also sold very well at around 1.4 million. On 8 January 2007, Yang recorded her last "Guess Guess Guess" show due to her busy schedule and focus upon her music/acting career. Hoping to portray herself as a "serious" actress, Yang co-starred in the lesbian-themed film Spider Lilies alongside Isabella Leong. However, after co-starring in Spider Lilies, Yang returned to her previous cute image by becoming the lead actress in the drama Why Why Love, co-starring with Mike He and Kingone Wang, which aired during the summer of 2007. She subsequently released her third album, My Other Self on 7 September 2007. It features the theme song from Why Why Love, "缺氧" (Lacking Oxygen) and the insert song "完美比例" (Perfect Example).

Rainie Yang in 2009

On 23 April 2008, while filming the Taiwanese drama Miss No Good in San Chih, Taiwan; Yang fell heavily from the stairs, and was sent to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei. The stairs were located between the third floor, where the dressing room was located, and the first floor, where the film set was located. The crew originally thought the falling object was a light frame, but upon hearing a groan, they realized it was her. After an X-ray examination, doctors diagnosed Yang's injury as a spinal contusion. After leaving the hospital, producer Angie Chai took Yang to a Chinese massage therapist.^[2] Miss No Good, starring Yang and Wilber Pan, was aired during the fall/winter of 2008 and met with much success. During this period of time, she also released her 4th album, Not Yet a Woman, which features the insert song "太煩惱" (Too Much Trouble) and the theme song "帶我走" (Take Me Away) that were featured Miss No Good.

In 2009, Yang starred in Gala Television's ToGetHer with Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit and George Hu. Next she filmed The Child's Eye in 3D in Thailand, a horror flick directed by the Pang Brothers with Elanne Kong, and also Taiwanese drama Hi My Sweetheart with Show Luo, which first aired on CTS and GTV on 1 November 2009.^[3] After promoting Hi My Sweetheart, Yang released her fifth album, Rainie & Love...?, on New Years Day, 2010.^[4] Due to the success of Devil Beside You and Miss No Good overseas, Yang entered J-pop in 2010 by releasing a Japanese version of her hit "曖昧" (Intuition) as her first Japanese single.^[5]

Yang released her first collection album, Whimsical World Collection on 23 April 2010. It consists of 3 CDs and a DVD with 3 new tracks, 35 previously released tracks and 15 music videos from her five studio albums. Followed by her first concert, held on 24 April 2010 at Taipei Arena, with Jerry Yan as her special guest ^[6]

In 2011, Yang released her 6th album Longing For, which features "我們都傻" (We are all silly) that was an insert song of Love You.

On 22 October 2010, she was awarded Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the 45th Golden Bell Awards, for Hi My Sweetheart.

Controversy[link]

In 2003, Yang mistakenly thought the eight-year Second Sino-Japanese War was eleven years in length during a television program. After learning the actual length of the war, she responded with "Only eight years?" Internet postings exaggerated the incident to include her mistaking the death toll of the Nanking Massacre.^[7] Reports of her blunder generated anger in China, leading to the boycotting of Hunan Satellite Television's airing of Devil Beside You, in which she starred. Upon learning of the widespread boycott, Hunan TV replaced the show's airtime with Green Forest, My Home.^[8]

On April 3, 2007, Yang wrote a public apology letter to her fans, and said in an interview: "I left school early and entered the working world. In the future I am willing to read diligently when I have time. I believe in the future I will have a deeper understanding of history...I apologize to everyone...I will work hard to do my job well in the future."^[7]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Compilation albums[link]

Concert DVD[link]

Singles[link]

Filmography[link]

Television series[link]

Movies[link]