Dashan

Dashan (大山, pinyin: Dàshān, lit. "Big Mountain") is the Chinese stage name adopted by Canadian Mark Rowswell, a native of Ottawa, Ontario. His original Chinese name, as given by his Canadian Chinese-language teacher, was Lu Shiwei (路世伟).

Rowswell is perhaps the most recognized Westerner in China, yet is virtually unknown in the West.

Rowswell graduated from the University of Toronto in 1988. He then came to China as an overseas student at Peking University, studying Chinese language, and became a fluent speaker of Mandarin. He first appeared on Chinese television to host an international singing competition in November 1988. The following month he was invited to perform a comedic skit on national television during a New Years Eve variety special, to an estimated audience of 550 million people. The name "Dashan" ("big mountain" in Chinese) comes from the character Rowswell played in this skit, entitled Ye gui (夜归), which literally propelled him to national stardom overnight.

Due to the abrupt nature of Dashan's rise to fame, he has been called an "accidental celebrity". However, his subsequent longevity and continuing prominence in the Chinese media almost two decades later suggest something more substantive than mere accident. Many foreign nationals appear regularly on Chinese television, and foreigners fluent in the Chinese language are no longer a rarity. Yet no other foreign national has come close to the level of recognition and popularity in China enjoyed by Dashan.

Following Rowswell's first appearance as "Dashan", he began formal study of xiangsheng (a traditional form of "crosstalk" comedy) with his mentor, China's foremost comedian Jiang Kun. In December 1989 Rowswell became the first foreigner to be formally accepted into the strict xiangsheng hierarchy as a member of the "9th generation," a move that caused considerable controversy in Chinese performing arts circles at the time. Xiangsheng is often called "the art of comedic language", and as such is regarded in China as a highly skilled form of performing art beyond the reach of most native speakers, much less a foreigner.

Through the 1990's Rowswell appeared frequently on national and regional television programs across China to perform xiangsheng, including several appearances on CCTV's annual television program celebrating the Chinese New Year Gala Chunjie Wanhui (春节晚会) in 1989. This program is easily the most influential annual television event in China, with an estimated audience of 900 million to 1 billion viewers. Appearances on this and other programs gained Rowswell wide recognition throughout China.

Having made his name performing xiangsheng, Rowswell later became better known as a freelance host of many varied television programs and live events, especially those with an international focus and requiring a bilingual MC. He has also co-produced and hosted numerous language education programs, to teach both English and Chinese. Rowswell continues to be a popular performer and on-air personality on Chinese television to this day.

In recent years, Rowswell has expanded into dramatic acting, usually to portray other famous foreigners in Chinese history. In 2005 he played the lead role in a 24-part television series Palace Artist broadcast by China Central Television, as the 18th century Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione. In 2006 Rowswell performed the lead role in "Red Star Over China", a stage play based on the life of the American reporter Edgar Snow.

Dashan's name and image can often be seen in commercial endorsements for various Chinese and international companies. Rowswell is also active as a spokesperson for several charity organizations, primarily involved with cancer prevention as well as environmental protection. In [2004] Rowswell received a rare "Special Recognition Award" from the Canadian Cancer Society for his work on a joint Canada-China cancer prevention program.

In 2004, Dashan was chosen as one of ten "Outstanding Youth of Beijing." This marked the first time a foreign national has received this award, one of the highest honours granted by the Beijing authorities. In 1999, the University of Toronto selected Dashan as one of "100 Alumni Who Shaped the Century." In 1999, TIME Magazine selected Dashan as one of the "Leaders for the 21st Century." In 1998, New Weekly Magazine chose Dashan as one of the "Outstanding People of the Past 20 Years." In 1995, the National Film Board of Canada produced a documentary, directed by Guy Nantel, called Dashan, Ambassador to China's Funny Bone.

Perception

Despite being highly popular among the Chinese people, Rowswell is unpopular among some western residents in China.

Negative feelings often result from the frustration many foreign nationals have with learning the Chinese language. Westerners who speak Chinese are almost invariably compared with Dashan, who is seen as having set an impossibly high standard to attain.

Many foreign nationals in China are baffled at the level of popularity Dashan enjoys. His appearance and demeanor do not fit the traditional mold of television celebrities in the West, and there is suspicion that this Chinese-speaking foreigner consitutes little more than a "monkey show" to Chinese television viewers. However, the uniqueness of Dashan's celebrity and the longevity he has maintained suggest this suspicion is unfounded. There is no widespread perception among Chinese television viewers that Dashan is an object of ridicule. Instead, Dashan is widely regarded as a role model of cross-cultural respect and international friendship.

Rowswell has also been criticised for his apparent unwillingness to use his influential position in China to become more involved in political issues. Much of this negative feeling stems from his 'persona of cheerfulness' and 'look on the bright side' approach. Others note that this is simply the norm for all television performers in China, whether they be Chinese or foreign nationals.

Regardless of the negative feelings held by some, others feel Dashan is a pioneer who has overcome traditional stereotypes that suggested the Chinese language and culture were simply too complex for foreigners to master or understand. Dashan has helped to create a whole new image for foreigners in China. China's official state newspaper People's Daily once concluded "Dashan is a foreigner, but not an outsider".

Brush with Scandal

In 2005, a television program hosted by Rowswell was mentioned during testimony before the Gomery Commission in Canada. According to the Gomery Commission, the advertising company that sponsored an educational series hosted by Rowswell received funding from a government program accused of mismanagement. The 26-part series, called Dashan and Friends in Canada (随大山商访加拿大), was broadcast in China and received an award from the Chinese Ministry of Radio, Film and Television in 1998.

The Gomery Commission's fact-finding report eventually cleared the advertising company of any wrongdoing. Rowswell was not personally implicated in the incident. However, his brush with scandal created tremendous interest and speculation in the Chinese tabloid media.

External links

• Dashan's homepage