Jiang Kun | |
Native Name: | 姜昆 |
Native Name Lang: | zh |
Birth Date: | 19 October 1950 |
Birth Place: | Beijing, China |
Alma Mater: | Open University of China |
Occupation: | Xiangsheng performer |
Years Active: | 1976–present |
Jiang Kun (; born October 19, 1950) is a Chinese comedian, specializing in the xiangsheng trade.[1] [2] A native of Beijing, he was a of another renowned comedian, Ma Ji. Jiang Kun currently acts as deputy chairman of the Association of Chinese Folk Art.
Jiang was born in Beijing, on 19 October 1950. His grandfather Jiang Zongli was born in Yantai, Shandong. In order to escape famine, he came to Beijing and set up a steamed bread shop. Later he opened a restaurant called "Tong Fu Zhai" . Jiang's father Jiang Zuyu (; 1924–1989) was a calligrapher, he studied calligraphy under Zhang Boying and Hua Shikui . Jiang Kun has two uncles and one sister, Jiang Zuming, Jiang Zuyuan and Jiang Shuzhen .[3] [4]
In 1976, he was transferred to the Central Radio Broadcasting Backstage Rap Group, whilst studying under Ma Ji. In 1985, Jiang Kun was elected Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Ballad Singers Association. In the same year, he replaced his mentor Ma Ji, and took on the duties as the Head of the China Radio Broadcasting Rap Group, and was also elected a member of the Standing Committee of the China Youth Federation. In recent years, Kun has been a regular performer on prominent events such as the CCTV New Year's Gala, the largest annual television event in the world (by viewership).
Jiang married Li Jingmin, the couple has a daughter named Jiang Shan (; born 1979).[5] [6]
On February 11, 2007, Jiang Kun was awarded the World Outstanding Chinese Award.[7]
He has starred in the 2008 Chinese documentary, "Chinese: 震撼世界的七日" (loosely translated as The World Shook in 7 Days).[8]