‘Where is the money?’: famous Chinese opera singer’s attack on local officials for not supporting struggling artists trends

A Chinese actress’s tearful criticism of the lack of public financial support for traditional opera players in China, some earning just 50 yuan (US$7) a day, has started a heated debate on mainland social media.

Actress He Saifei delivered a three-minute-long critique of the lack of local government support for the arts while judging a traditional Chinese opera competition, Jimu News reported.

Her impromptu speech occurred after the competition host revealed to the judges and audience the tough financial situation of actor Zhang Junbo following his well-received Jin opera performance. Zhang receives just 1,500 yuan (US$213) per month from the Shanxi Provincial Opera Troupe, forcing him to drive a taxi and do food deliveries to earn more money to support his wife and three children.

“Perhaps you will say Zhang has a noble thought of devoting himself to an opera career and sticking with traditional opera. I would say he just loves the opera, and he loves it to the bone,” He said.

“All of us watched his performance just now. He played such a long narrative and emotional opera and attracted our attention deeply. I watched it without gasping for breath. He is such a wonderful artist! If we don’t protect such an artist and don’t guarantee his basic living, who else do we protect?” she asked rhetorically.

Zhang was so moved by He’s passion for opera and praise for his skill, at one point he used his costume sleeve to wipe away tears during her speech.

He continued: “Rejuvenating traditional opera should not only be a slogan. You have put millions or tens of millions of yuan into preparing an opera to receive high awards from the state cultural authority. But after receiving the award, you just put the opera away in a warehouse. The general public cannot see it. Where is the opera? Where is the money?

“How do you local officials implement the central government’s policy of rejuvenating and inheriting traditional culture? How do you use the money?”