Highlights
National Class One Actors Dong Yuanyuan and Zhang Jianguo Receive MPI Honorary Professorships
Im Sio Kei, President of MPI confers honorary professorships on Dong YuanYuan and Zhang Jianguo
Group photo of Dong Yuanyuan, Zhang Jianguo and the guest participants of the ceremonyMacao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) has conferred honorary professorships on Dong Yuanyuan and Zhang Jianguo in recognition of their outstanding achievements in promoting the quintessence of Chinese culture. Both Dong Yuanyuan and Zhang Jianguo are National Class One actors, and Zhang Jianguo is also a famous Peking Opera performing artist. Professor Im Sio Kei, President of MPI, praised their outstanding artistic achievements and devotion to the inheritance of Peking Opera. Over the years, they have made significant contributions to the promotion of the national culture and to the future development of Macao with their influence and artistic accomplishments. The ceremony was witnessed by more than two hundred guests, academics and students.
The ceremony was held at the Auditorium of MPI on 11 November 2019. President Im noted that MPI has conferred an honorary professorship on several distinguished individuals, including Li Zhaoxing, former Chinese Foreign Minister; Henry Alfred Kissinger, former US Secretary of State; Daisaku Ikeda, a Japanese scholar and other world-renowned scholars. With the conferment of the honorary professorship and recognition of their outstanding artistic achievements, MPI looks forward to the continuing devotion of Dong Yuanyuan and Zhang Jianguo to Chinese cultural exchange in the future. Dong was invited to participate in the 2018 MPI graduation ceremony. Witnessing the Chinese flag raising ceremony under the melody of the national anthem, Dong also performed Peking Opera for participants and said that she was immersed in patriotism as well as touched by MPI academics’ and students’ recognition for the excellent Chinese cultural tradition.
As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR, MPI will lead all the academics and students to understand and love Peking Opera, so as to propagate this distinguished and traditional art. Zhang Jianguo admired MPI for its long-term effort and comprehensive education promoting the inheritance of traditional Chinese culture in Macao, which cultivates the development and cultural recognition of the quintessence of Peking Opera in the hearts of Macao citizens. It plays a greater and better role in the integration of cross-strait culture.
Dong Yuanyuan is the disciple of Peking Opera master Mei Baojiu. She is also the art consultant of China Beijing Opera Foundation, the national class one actress and the leading actress of the Third Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company. Besides, she serves as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and was awarded the title of “National Women’s Meritorious Pioneer”, etc. Dong graduated from the postgraduate class of the Excellent Young Beijing-Opera Performers. Her repertoire includes Lady General Mu Takes Command, Farewell My Concubine, Guifei Intoxicated, The Women Warriors of The Yang Family, Lady Anguo, etc. She has won the “Plum Blossom Award” for excellence in Chinese drama and the “Magnolia Award” in Shanghai drama.
Zhang Jianguo is the chairman of the China Beijing Opera Arts Foundation, a veteran of Peking Opera and a national class one actor. He served as the leader of the Third Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the Central Committee of the National Revolutionary Committee and an excellent expert of the Chinese Ministry of Culture. Zhang Jianguo has won the “Magnolia Award”, “Best Performance Award”, “Mei Lanfang Gold Award”, “Star of Chinese Peking Opera”, “Plum Blossom Award”, “Asian Most Outstanding Artist Award”, etc.