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Tsai Chih-chung

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"C. C. Tsai" redirects here. For Taiwanese footballer Tsai Chih-chieh, see Tsai Chih-chieh.

Tsai Chih-chung (Chinese: 蔡志忠; pinyin: Cài Zhìzhōng; C. C. Tsai; Buddhist name Yanyi 延一; born February 2, 1948) is a Taiwanese comic-artist.[1][2] He is known for his graphical works on Chinese philosophy and literature, most notably on Daoism and Zen Buddhism, which he made accessible and popularized through the use of plain language and engaging illustrations.[3] He also made a name for himself as an award-winning film director, serialized comic strip creator, widely collected painter, champion bridge player, and premiere collector of antique bronze Buddhist statues. He is also a Shaolin monk.

C. C. Tsai
蔡志忠
BornTsai Chih-chung 蔡志忠
(1948-02-02) February 2, 1948 (age 76)
Sanjia, Huatan, Zhanghua, Taiwan 台灣彰化縣花壇鄉三家村
Pseudonym(s)C. C. Tsai
Notable works
Zhuangzi Speaks 莊子說
Confucius Speaks 孔子説
Sunzi Speaks 孫子說
Zen Speaks 禪說...
AwardsGolden Horse, Golden Tripod, Golden Comic, Prince Claus
Spouse(s)Yang Wanqiong 楊琬瓊 (divorced)
ChildrenCai Xinyi 蔡欣怡
In this Chinese name, the family name is Tsai.

Tsai's books have sold over 500 million copies in 59 countries. He currently resides in Hangzhou, China.[1]

Biography

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Comic artist

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Tsai self-portrait

C. C. Tsai was born on February 2, 1948 in Sanjia, Huatan, Zhanghua, Taiwan 台灣彰化縣花壇鄉三家村.[4][5] In 1963, when he was 15 years old, he answered an ad for a comic artist and was hired. He dropped out of school and moved to Taipei. Three months later, he moved to the largest comic publishing house in Taiwan, where he anonymously created hundreds of comic books, mostly in the kung-fu genre.[4][6][7][8]

From 1968 to 1971, he fulfilled three years of compulsory military service, during which time he educated himself in art history, color theory, and design.[4][7] Upon being released from the military, he applied at Kuangchi Program Service (the first independent television production company in Taiwan[9]) and beat out all of the fresh design school graduates for a position as director of television art design.[4][7][8] Using KPS's equipment and library, Tsai taught himself the art of animation, and in 1977, he separated from KPS, partnered with Che Gam-Tiu 謝金塗, and established Far Eastern Animation Productions 遠東卡通公司, creating animated ads and shorts.[4][7][8][10] Their first full-length movie, Old Master Cute 七彩卡通老夫子 came out in 1981, based on Hong Kong cartoonist Alfonso Wong's 王澤 Old Master Q 老夫子 comic strip.[8] It was co-directed by Tsai, Che, and Woo Shu-Yue 胡樹儒, was a box-office success, and won the 1981 Golden Horse Award for best full-length animation.[8][11][10][12]

In 1981, Tsai left Far Eastern Animation and started his own company, Dragon Animation 龍卡通, which brought out the full length-animated movie Old Master Cute Part 3 山T老夫子 in 1983, and in 1984 it brought out Black Dragon Courtyard 烏龍院, based on comics by Ao Yu-hsiang 敖幼祥.[4][13][14][15][16] In 1984, Tsai shut down Dragon Animation to focus on original comic illustrations of his own.[4][8]

In 1983, Tsai began serializing his own comic strips:

  • 1983, Drunken Swordsman 大醉俠 in Crown 皇冠月刊, Oriental Daily News 東方日報 (Hong Kong), and Lianhe Wanbao 聯合晚報 (Singapore)[4]
  • 1984, Fat Dragon Crosses the River 飛龍過江 and Traveling Swashbucklers 江湖游俠 in United Daily News 聯合報[4][7]
  • 1984, The Bald Detective 光頭神探 in Min Sheng Daily 民生報, Ming Pao Daily News 明報 (Hong Kong), and Shin Min Daily News 新民晚報 (Singapore)[4]
  • 1984, One-Eyed Dragon Master Thief 盜師獨眼龍 in China Times Weekly 時報周刊, Women 女性, Outdoor Activities 野外, Torch of Victory 勝利之光, and Sinchew Daily 星洲日報 (Malaysia).[4][7]
  • 1984, Some of the above were serialized in Japan's Manga Time まんがタイム, Manga Sunday 漫画サンデー, and Manga Life まんがライフ.[4][7]
  • 1986, Heroes of the Marsh 水滸傳 and Journey to the West 西游記38變, both in United Daily News 聯合報 and China Times Weekly 時報周刊.[4]

In 1985, the year he was named one of Taiwan's Ten Outstanding Young Persons, Tsai developed a plan to adapt the major Chinese classics into comic book format. The first was Zhuangzi Speaks 莊子說：自然的簫聲 (1986), which immediately shot up the best-sellers list and stayed at the number 1 spot for 10 months.[4][8]

Tsai continued his success in 1987 with the following interpretations of classical thought: Laozi Speaks 老子説: 智者的低, Liezi Speaks 例子說：御風而行的哲思, Confucius Speaks 孔子説：仁者的叮嚀, and The New Dao 世説新語：六朝的清談. These were followed in 1988 by: Zen Speaks 禪說：尊者的棒喝, The Platform Sutra 六祖墰經：曹溪的佛唱, The Middle Path 中庸：和諧的人生, Roots of Wisdom 菜根譚：人生的滋味, Book of History 史記：歷史的長城, Higher Learning 大學：博大的學問, and Analects 論語：仁者的諍言. In 1989 came: Han Feizi Speaks 韓非子說：法家的峻言, Mencius Speaks 孟子說：亂世的哲思, Zhuangzi Speaks II 莊子說 II: 自然的簫聲, and Laozi Speaks II: 老子説 II：智者的低於. Sunzi Speaks 孫子說：兵學的先知 was published in 1990.

In 1987, Tsai's books held the top 3 spots of the Taiwan bestseller list.[17] He was the bestselling author in Taiwan in 1987 and 1988.[18]

He also published comedic interpretations of classic literature, such as Journey to the West 西游記 (1987-88), Ghosts and Wizards 聊齋志異 (1988), Outlaws of the Marsh 水滸傳 (1988), and White Snake 白蛇傳 (1990), as well as straightforward versions of the poetry of the Tang and Song dynasties (1989).

Overall, Tsai was instrumental in initiating Taiwan's animation and comics boom that began in the 1980s, providing both expertise and unprecedented creative style.[10]

In 1991, Tsai entered the China market when Joint Publishing 三聯書店 published his 27 volume Classics of China comic book series 中國古籍漫畫系列, with an initial print run of 5 million volumes.[19] Within one year, sales topped 30 million volumes[20] and 60 million by 1998.[21]

By 1991 authorized translations of his books were being published in English, Spanish, Japanese, Czech, and Russian, among other languages in over 20 countries.[20] By 2003, they had been translated into 42 languages.[22]

Painter

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In the late 1980s, Tsai took up traditional Chinese ink-wash painting.

His solo exhibitions include:

  • 1991, Lianxin Gallery 連信藝品藝廊, Tainan[23]
  • 2014, "Zen Ambience 水墨禅境," Commercial Press 商务印书馆, Beijing, 111 ink-wash paintings[24][25]
  • 2015, "A Colorless World," Nanjing Art University of the Arts Art Gallery 南京艺术学院美术馆, Nanjing[26]
  • 2015, "Buddhas and Boddhisattvas 诸佛菩萨, Commercial Press 商务印书馆, 80+ ink-wash paintings[27]
  • 2021, "Awakening," Baoan Gallery 宝安画院, Shenzhen[28][unreliable source]
  • 2022, "Guanyin," Baoan Gallery 宝安画院, Shenzhen[28][unreliable source]
  • 2023, "Five Petals Blossoming," Baoan Gallery 宝安画院, Shenzhen[28][unreliable source]

Prints have been published in his six volume Zen Paintings 蔡志忠水墨說禪.

Bridge player

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Tsai is a champion bridge player, with over 90 trophies from competitions in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and North America, including 1991 champion of British Columbia, Canada.[29][30]

Collector

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In 1991, Tsai began collecting gold and bronze Buddhist statuary.[31] By 1997, his collection included 2,000 items.[32][33] The collection had increased to 3,300 by 2003[34] and to about 4,000 by 2020.[35]

Exhibitions:

Family

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Cai's father was the village calligrapher.[8] In 1976, Tsai married Yang Wanqiong 楊琬瓊.[4] They have one daughter.[8]

Other

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In 2020, Tsai took vows as a Buddhist Monk at Shaolin Temple.[35][37]

C. C. Tsai Museums

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The first museum dedicated to C. C. Tsai opened in Hangzhou in March of 2024.[38] A second opened in Gaoping 高平, Shanxi 山西 in June of 2024.[39]

Honors and Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b Gu 顾, Zhiming 志铭 (September 27, 2022). ""74岁漫画家蔡志忠：人生是用来完成梦想的"". 新华报业网. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Das Tao Te King des Laotse: Gezeichnet und interpretiert von Chih-Chung, Tsai
  3. ^ Prince Claus Awards, Tsai Chi Chung: Cartoonist: Chang Hwa, Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Tsai, Chih-chung 蔡志忠 (1993). 蔡子說 [Master Cai Speaks] (in Chinese). Taipei: 源流. ISBN 9573217368.
  5. ^ "蔡志忠：这就是我的生命". Sina. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  6. ^ Weng, Ji'an 翁稷安 (December 18, 2023). "跨世紀臺漫》揮舞四格漫的漫畫家——蔡志忠與他的時代". OpenBook. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Tsai, C. C. 蔡志忠 (January 6, 2023). "蔡志忠的漫画人生". Sina 新浪网. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Cartoonist as Pundit". Taiwan Today. March 1, 1988. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Teng, Sue-feng (1999). "The First Chapter in Taiwan's TV History --The Story of Kuangchi Program Service". Taiwan Panorama. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Shi, Changjie 石昌杰 (July 7, 2005). "台灣動畫創造力". Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "老夫子". 香港影庫 HKMDB. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "JINMA 來跨 - 蔡志忠". jinma.today (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2024-06-29.
  13. ^ "龍卡通有限公司". 香港影庫 HKMDB. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "敖幼祥". Cultural Affairs Bureau, Hualien 花蓮縣文化局. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "Comic Artist | Ao Yu-hsiang". Ministry of Culture. 6 February 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "Older Master Cute Part III". IMDb. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Peng, Biyu 彭碧玉 (March 24, 1988). "漫畫家成了出版商的金母雞". United Evening News 聯合晚報. p. 8. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  18. ^ 中華民國教育部. "八十一年度社會教育有功團體暨個人名錄" (PDF). Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "蔡志忠席捲大陸". United Daily 聯合報. January 19, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Liu, Nian 劉念 (July 14, 1991). "蔡志忠﹕最會經營自己的人". United Daily 聯合報. p. 23. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  21. ^ Zhang, Boshun 張伯順 (November 9, 1998). "培育人才以擺脫日本漫畫". United Daily 聯合報. p. 14. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  22. ^ Yang, Zhengmin 楊正敏 (December 1, 2003). "重溫本土漫畫舊夢 走趟故事館". United Daily 聯合報. pp. B4. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "連信展蔡志忠漫畫水墨畫". Economic Daily News 經濟日報. September 30, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  24. ^ "北京 台漫畫家蔡志忠作品展 逾百幅水墨新作有禪意". Economic Daily News 經濟日報. July 28, 2014. pp. A10. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  25. ^ Lu, Yanxia 路艷霞 (July 29, 2014). "蔡志忠辦水墨畫展 自揭丑事:我有兩大惡習". people.cn 人民网. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  26. ^ "《无色界》：蔡志忠作品展". icity. 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  27. ^ "蔡志忠「诸佛菩萨」水墨画展暨蔡志忠先生图书签售会于涵芬楼艺术馆举行". Artron.net. August 17, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Shen, Zhou 神州 (December 22, 2023). "蔡志忠在深圳個展現場分享「智慧人生」　展覽持續進行中". Wen Wei Po 文匯網. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Teng, Shufen 縢淑芬 (June 2004). "漫談智慧，畫出經典──蔡志忠". Taiwan Panorama 台灣光華雜志. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  30. ^ "蔡志忠打橋牌技驚加拿大". United Daily 聯合報. February 20, 1992. p. 26. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  31. ^ Cai, Meijuan 蔡美娟 (November 14, 1993). "蔡志忠:現金不放在銀行". United Daily 聯合報. p. 18.
  32. ^ a b Xiong, Yijing 熊宜敬 (August 3, 1997). "台北天空萬佛朝宗". Economic Daily News 經濟日報. p. 14. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  33. ^ a b "蔡志忠賣漫畫買金銅佛". United Daily 聯合報. November 25, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  34. ^ Chen, Wanqian 陳宛茜 (June 16, 2003). "蔡志忠 佛像堆裡領略佛理". United Daily 聯合報. pp. B6. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  35. ^ a b "为收集佛像痴狂，听蔡志忠讲述他与三千佛像的故事". The Paper 澎湃. November 19, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  36. ^ "【法相之美──蔡志忠金銅佛造像收藏展】 酣睡中的佛陀". January 30, 2012. pp. Merit Times 人間福報. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  37. ^ Lin, Chenyi 林宸誼 (November 18, 2020). "72歲漫畫家蔡志忠少林寺出家". United Daily 聯合報. pp. A14. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  38. ^ "看乡村，创万物，首个蔡志忠文化馆落户余杭百丈". Qianjiang Evening News 钱江晚报. March 31, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  39. ^ Shu, JIng 舒靓 (June 15, 2024). "高平蔡志忠美术馆开馆". China Daily 中国日报. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  40. ^ Dai, Anwei 戴安瑋 (July 24, 2004). "漫畫郵票". United Evening New 聯合晚報. p. 4. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  41. ^ Chen, Wanqian 陳宛茜 (August 12, 2006). "蔡志忠 受邀到少林寺立碑". United Daily 聯合報. pp. C3.
  42. ^ Li, Yanru 李晏如 (June 14, 2011). "蔡志忠 獲金漫獎終身成就獎". United Daily 聯合報. pp. A16. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  43. ^ "第37屆金鼎獎得獎名單". Retrieved June 27, 2024.
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