Misplaced Pages

Yang Jie (Chinese: 杨洁; 7 April 1929 - 15 April 2017) was a Chinese television director and producer best known for her work Journey to the West, adapted from the 16th century Ming dynasty novelist Wu Cheng'en's classical novel of the same title.

Early life and education

Yang was born in Sichuan, on April 7, 1929, to Yang Bokai (杨伯恺), a political activist, and Wei Shuyuan (危淑元).

In 1945, she was sent to Yan'an, then she was accepted to Huabei Union University (now Renmin University of China). After graduation, she joined the People's Liberation Army. She was assigned to broadcasting stations as an announcer.

After the establishment of the Communist State in 1954, she was transferred to Beijing, where she worked at the Central People's Broadcasting Station (now China National Radio). In 1958 she entered the China Central Television.

Career

Yang made her directorial debut Sweet Handkerchief in 1976.

In 1980, she was signed to direct the fantasy television series Journey to the West, based on the classical novel of the same title by the 16th century Ming dynasty novelist Wu Cheng'en. The series has been replayed almost 3,000 times every year on various Chinese Television channels and has received 6 billion views in the three decades. In 1988, Yang won Best Director at the Golden Eagle Awards, the China Television Artists Association's equivalent to the Emmys, for her work on Journey to the West. It also won the prize for Best Long Series at the 8th Flying Apsaras Awards, which recognize excellent Chinese TV programs.

In 1993, she directed the historical television series Zhu Yuanzhang. The drama stars Lü Qi as Hongwu Emperor, alongside Zhang Ying, Ye Qinglin, Wen Bodong, Cui Weining, Li Tang and Liu Falu.

In 1995, Yang was confirmed as director of Xi Shi. Based on the life of Xi Shi, it stars Jiang Qinqin as Xi Shi and Zhang Qiuge as Goujian, with Kou Zhenhai and Xu Shaohua. That same year, she also hired as director of Sima Qian. The series stars Qiu Yongli as Sima Qian, alongside Xu Huanshan, Zhang Qiuge, Wang Quanyou, and Xu Shaohua.

In 2000, she directed Journey to the West (Season 2), sequel to Journey to the West.

Death

On April 15, 2017, Yang died of cardiovascular disease in Beijing.

Personal life

Yang was twice married. She had three children (two daughters and one son) with her former husband Zhou Chuanji (周传基), a director and professor at Beijing Film Academy.

In 1969 Yang was married to Wang Chongqiu (王崇秋), the cinematographer of Journey to the West. The couple had a daughter named Yang Yunfei (杨云菲).

Filmography

Television

Books

• 杨洁 (2013). 敢问路在何方 [Dare to Ask Where is the Road] (in Chinese). Suzhou, Jiangsu. pp. Jiangsu Literature and Arts Publishing House. ISBN 9787539957883.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• 杨洁自述：我的九九八十一难 [Yang Jie: My 81 Crises] (in Chinese). Beijing: Renmin University of China Press. 2014. ISBN 9787300183961.

Lyric

• "Feminine Emotional" (女儿情)

References

1. ^ Zhang Rui (17 April 2017). "'Journey to the West' director dies at 88". China.org. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
2. Zhang Xingjian (18 April 2017). "Director of memorable TV drama 'Journey to the West' dies". Chinadaily. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
3. Kirsty Needham (21 April 2017). "Nostalgia for Monkey sweeps China as original TV director dies". smh.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
4. ^ 忆《西游记》导演杨洁 她是四川人其父是十二桥烈士. eastday.com (in Chinese). 2017-04-18. 杨洁出生在四川，她的父亲是"成都十二桥惨案"的烈士杨伯恺，至今，杨伯恺的墓还在成都十二桥烈士陵园内。杨洁的女儿证实，母亲确实出生在四川，并非网上所传的湖北，自己的外公杨伯恺烈士是四川营山人。
5. 杨洁四川出生 永远的遗憾：没再回成都祭奠父亲. newssc.org (in Chinese). 2017-04-18.
6. ^ Ru Yuan (2015). "Yang Jie: Journey to a Director". chinapictorial. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
7. ^ Joyce Dong (21 April 2017). "An Illustrious Career: China's Legendary TV Director Yang Jie". womenofchina. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
8. 从“逍遥”的姐弟恋到互补眷侣. 163.com (in Chinese). 2017-05-17. 不过，他们俩的婚姻存在着现实问题，1969年俩人结婚时，王崇秋26岁，杨洁40岁，离异后带着三个孩子。
9. 86版《西游记》导演杨洁真是一个奇女子. sina (in Chinese). 2017-04-17. 杨洁的这第一位丈夫，便是前两周刚刚去世的北京电影学院教授、第五代导演的恩师周传基先生（周老师的大爷爷周自齐是民国政府总理）。
10. 杨洁：如果让我挑，我肯定拍《红楼梦》(图). 163.com (in Chinese). 2012-11-25. 杨洁夫妇有3个女儿一个儿子。三个孩子目前都在国外，只有小女儿丫丫留在他们身边。
11. 王崇秋：怀念我的妻子杨洁. qq.com (in Chinese). 2017-05-15.
12. Zhang Feng (2017-04-17). 杨洁去世：一曲《女儿情》道尽时代温柔 新京报快评. 163.com (in Chinese).

External links

• Yang Jie at IMDb

• 1929 births
• 2017 deaths
• Renmin University of China alumni
• Chinese television directors
• Chinese television producers
• Writers from Nanchong
• 20th-century Chinese writers