Mao's Last Dancer - Li Cunxin [91]
Chinese and English are two very distinct languages, each with its own written form. As we learn more about each other’s cultures, the translations between our languages continue to evolve. For example, Beijing, the capital city of China, was once pronounced “Peking” by non-Chinese speakers.
Both Chinese and English have their own sets of sounds that are difficult to match up exactly with each other. In Chinese, sounds like “hs,” “ts,” and “zh” are very common, but they seem unusual for English speakers. Since there is no direct translation between written Chinese characters and the alphabet used to write English, many sounds from spoken Chinese are not easily spelled. We do our best to write Chinese words phonetically, so that the letters form the sounds that are made when it’s spoken. Following is a phonetic guide to the major people and places in Li Cunxin (pronounced “Lee Schwin-Sing”)’s life, so you can learn to pronounce them correctly—as any native Chinese speaker would.
Li’s Family Members
Cuncia: Tsoon-say
Cunfar: Tsoon-far
Cunmao: Tsoon-mow (as in “now”)
Cunsang: Tsoon-song
Cunyuan: Tsoon-yen
Jing Tring: Jihng Trihng
Li’s Teachers and Friends at the Beijing Dance Academy
Chen Shulian: Chen Shoo-lee-ahn
Chong Xiongjun: Chong Shao-joon
Gao Dakun: Gow (as in “now”) Dah-koon
Her Junfang: Her Joon-fang
Liu Fengtian: Lee-you Feng-tee-ahn
Ma Lixie: Ma Lee-soo
Song Jingqing: Song Jihng-chihng
Wang Lujun: Wang Loo-joon
Xiao Shuhua: Shao Shoo-hwa
Zhang Ce: Zang Cher
Zhang Shu: Zang Shoo
Zhang Weiqiang: Zang Way-chong
Politicians
Deng Xiaoping: Deng Shao-ping
Hua Guofeng: Hwa Goo-oh-feng
Li’s Home Province
Qingdao: Tsin-dow (as in “now”)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To embark on writing my autobiography was an enormous challenge. At times I wondered if I was insane ever to agree to write it in the first place. Then again, I had the privilege of working with two of the most sensitive, caring, and creative editors at Penguin Australia. They skillfully pulled the story out of me and guided me through it in a most fascinating and rewarding process. My publisher, Julie Watts, and my editor, Suzanne Wilson—they are not only two of the best editors one could ever dream of working with, they are also two people with high principles and integrity. Without the sound advice of these two special women and the highly professional team at Penguin, Mao’s Last Dancer would never have happened. Also to Cathy Larsen, the designer of my book, for her creativity and wonderful design work.
A special thanks to my dear friend Charles Foster, to whom I owe my life and more. He has made an important contribution to this book. The Bandit, Teacher Xiao, Fengtian, and others in China have also helped. And to my beloved parents and all of my brothers back in China who allowed me to tell their stories. They helped me with their recollections of our hard, hard childhood. They endured my endless bombardments—phone call after phone call, letter after letter. To ask them to reflect on those years was like asking them to relive them. They provided me with enormous emotional support in the writing of this book.
And thank you to all my other friends and relatives who helped me with my book and who so enthusiastically supported me.
PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders of the photographic material included in this book. The publishers would appreciate hearing from any copyright holders not here acknowledged.
Photographic insert:
“My classmates,” “The New Village,” “Proudly wearing Mao’s army uniform,” “My beloved niang,” “My first lonely day in Beijing,” “The Beijing Dance Academy” (photo by Sarah Darling), “Hai Luo Sha,” and “Rehearsing Hai Luo Sha,” all courtesy of Li Cunxin.
“First contact with the West” and “On the steps of the Vaganova School,” photographs by Ben Stevenson, courtesy of Li Cunxin.
“Defection,” photograph courtesy of Charles Foster, Houston.
“Sleeping Beauty” photograph by Jim Caldwell, courtesy of the Houston Ballet, “Applying my makeup” (photo by Leticia