Dashan
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Mark Henry Rowswell, CM (born May 23, 1965),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> known by his Chinese stage name Dashan (Template:Zh), is a Canadian performer and television personality who gained prominence in China. He became known in the late 1980s through regular appearances on China Central Television (CCTV), particularly in the traditional comedic art form xiangsheng. Although less publicly visible in Canada, he developed a significant presence in Chinese media as a non-Chinese national working in domestic programming. Since 2012, he has shifted his focus toward solo performances in live venues and has contributed to the development of the stand-up comedy scene in China.<ref>"How a Canadian became China's most famous foreigner" True North Far East, September 13, 2019. Retrieved on March 21, 2021.</ref>
BiographyEdit
EducationEdit
Rowswell was born in 1965 in Ottawa, Ontario,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> and attended Nepean High School.Template:Citation needed He started learning Chinese in 1979 from a refugee that he worked alongside in a camera store on Bank Street. After learning a few words, Rowswell bought books and cassettes teaching the language.<ref name=":0" />
Rowswell enrolled at the University of Toronto, initially to study philosophy, because his parents preferred that he study abroad in China if he wanted to learn Chinese. However, Rowswell switched to formally studying Chinese early on as an undergraduate.<ref name=":0" /> His original Chinese name, as given by his Canadian Chinese-language teacher, was Lu Shiwei (Template:Zh) based on his surname Rowswell.<ref name=":1" /> Upon graduation from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese studies in 1988,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Rowswell was easily able to secure an exchange position with a full scholarship at Peking University to continue his Chinese studies.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
Early television appearancesEdit
Rowswell first appeared on Chinese television to co-host an international singing competition later in 1988. The producers wanted a foreigner with fluent Mandarin, and selected Rowswell from a field of candidates partly because of his Chinese studies degree from the University of Toronto. Afterwards, he was invited to perform a comedic skit on national television during the CCTV New Year's Gala, a variety program broadcast to an estimated audience of 550 million people by the state broadcaster.<ref name=":0" /> Rowswell portrayed a sassy peasant with a no-nonsense wife during the skit,<ref name=":0" /> which was called Ye gui (Template:Zh).Template:Citation needed The name "Dashan" ("big mountain" in Chinese) was the name of his character in the skit,<ref name=":0" /> Xu Dashan (Template:Zh). The skit propelled him to national stardom overnight because of his fluent Chinese and delivery.
After the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, as many Westerners in China left as sanctions were applied, Dashan decided to stay in China and continue his career on state television. In a 2016 interview with The Globe and Mail, he called the decision "the original sin of Dashan", but also theorized that it defined him to his Chinese audience as a true friend in contrast to the fairweather friends who left.<ref name=":0" />
Due to the abrupt nature of Dashan's rise to fame, he has been called an "accidental celebrity".Template:By whom However, his subsequent longevity and continuing prominence in the Chinese media more than two decades later suggest something more substantial. 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.
XiangshengEdit
Following Rowswell's first appearance as "Dashan", he began formal study of xiangsheng with his mentor, comedian Jiang Kun.<ref name=":1" /> In December 1989, Dashan 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",Template:Citation needed 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.<ref name=":0" />
1990–2012Edit
CCTV New Year's GalaEdit
Through the 1990s, Dashan appeared frequently on national and regional television programs across China to perform xiangsheng and comedic skits, including several appearances on CCTV's annual television program celebrating the Chinese New Year, CCTV New Year's Gala, in 1998 and 1999. This program is China's most watched annual television event, with an estimated audience of 900 million to 1 billion viewers. Appearances on this and other programs gained Dashan wide recognition throughout China.
Dashan's public xiangsheng performances decreased in the early 21st century. In a 2005 interview with the Chongqing Evening News, Dashan stated that he seldom performs xiangsheng due to the increased requirements that performers stick to a stipulated topic as well as exceeding audience expectations since his televised debut.<ref>"Dashan signs books, trashes crosstalk in Chongqing", Danwei, July 12, 2005. Retrieved April 24, 2013.</ref>
In early 2009 Dashan made a return to the CCTV New Year's Gala to perform a xiangsheng skit in which he appeared together with Ma Dong, son of the famous xiangsheng master Ma Ji. The skit received 2nd Prize in the audience choice awards announced at the end of the Chinese New Year holiday. With this performance, Dashan became (at the time) the only foreign national to have appeared on the CCTV New Year's Gala a total of three times.<ref>"春晚“英伦组合”得三等奖" China Daily, Beijing, February 9, 2009. Retrieved on March 19, 2009.</ref>
Dashan made a fourth appearance on the CCTV New Year's Gala in 2011, in a skit introducing and performing with several foreign students studying Chinese at Confucius Institutes. The skit had no accompanied Chinese performers and was awarded second prize in the audience choice awards.<ref>"Dashan to perform at Spring Festival Gala" Template:Webarchive CNTV.cn Retrieved on April 24, 2011.</ref>
Television hostEdit
With the move away from xiangsheng, throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s Dashan increasingly worked in a non-comedic role as a freelance host or presenter of many varied television programs and live events, especially those with an international focus and requiring a bilingual (English/Chinese) emcee.
Dashan also hosted numerous educational programs. Most notable of these include the ESL series Dashan and Friends (Template:Zh) and Dashan's Adventures (Template:Zh)<ref>The Commission of Inquiry Into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities: Kroll Lindquist Avey Report, page 168.</ref> and programs teaching Chinese as a foreign language for CCTV International, including Travel In Chinese (Template:Zh).
Dramatic actingEdit
Dashan has occasionally delved into dramatic acting, often to portray other famous foreigners in Chinese history. In 2005, he played the lead role in a 24-part television series Palace Artist (Template:Zh) broadcast by China Central Television, as the 18th-century Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione. In 2006 and 2007, Dashan performed the lead role in Red Star Over China (Template:Zh), a stage play based on the life and work of the American reporter Edgar Snow. In 2007 and 2008 he starred in a Chinese stage adaptation of the French comedy Le Dîner de Cons (The Dinner Game in English, Template:Zh), which toured across China and for which he was awarded the prestigious White Magnolia Award for best supporting actor.
Beijing OlympicsEdit
Dashan served as team attaché to the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.<ref>Canadian Olympic Committee (November 6, 2006) Canadian Olympic Committee Names Mark Rowswell Team Attaché for 2008 Olympic Games. Template:Webarchive Press Release. Retrieved on September 18, 2007.</ref>
Cultural ambassadorEdit
In many instances, Dashan has transcended the role of celebrity performer to become a cultural ambassador between China and the West, both in an informal as well as official capacity.
Dashan served as Commissioner General for Canada at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.<ref>The Commissioner General for Canada at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, Mr. Mark H. Rowswell, CM Template:Webarchive Press release. Retrieved on April 24, 2011.</ref>
During his official visit to China in February 2012, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced: "For many years Mark Rowswell has used his extraordinary talents to build bridges of understanding between Canada and China. I am pleased to name this highly recognized and respected individual as Canada's Goodwill Ambassador to China."<ref>"PM names Mark Rowswell "Dashan" as Canada's Goodwill Ambassador to China" Template:Webarchive Press release. Retrieved on February 7, 2012.</ref>
Current workEdit
In recent years Dashan has largely turned away from television to focus on solo performances in live venues and on social media.
Dashan LiveEdit
Since 2012 Dashan has been "on a mission to introduce stand-up comedy to China", performing in small clubs and at universities across China. In June 2014 he announced his plan to develop a travelling show, the Burned Out, Washed Up, Never Say Farewell tour.<ref>"Can Stand-Up Comedy Succeed in China?" The Atlantic, May 6, 2014. Retrieved on June 18, 2014.</ref>
This later became known as his solo comedy special Dashan Live (Template:Zh),<ref name=":1" /> which he has toured throughout China and to Chinese communities abroad.Template:Citation needed
In 2015, Dashan performed at the Flushing Comedy Club, a temporary Chinese comedy club in Flushing, Queens set up in a teahouse by Des Bishop. The club alternated all-Mandarin and all-English comedy nights; Dashan performed during the first all-Mandarin night.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In May 2016, after local officials in Suzhou shut down one of his shows, he considered leaving China for good.<ref name=":0" /> In 2017 Dashan was the only Mandarin performer at the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia.<ref name=":1" />
Dashan considers his stand-up as a mix of Western stand-up and Chinese xiangsheng.<ref name=":1" />
NarrationEdit
Dashan's distinctive voice has been featured in many Mandarin language narration and spoken word performances, including the children's story Guess How Much I Love You as performed by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3V_0Vb2jU8&vl=en "Guess How Much I Love You (Mandarin)" Retrieved on July 18, 2017.</ref> Peter and the Wolf as performed by the New York Philharmonic in Shanghai,<ref>https://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/1516/ypc-shanghai-peter-and-the-wolf "Young People's Concert in Shanghai: Peter and the Wolf" Retrieved on July 18, 2017.</ref> an original Mandarin version of The Carnival of the Animals, performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra<ref>https://vimeo.com/139003837 "Carnival of the Animals (original Mandarin narration)" Retrieved on July 18, 2017.</ref> and modern Chinese poetry for the popular WeChat channel "The Poem For You" (Template:Zh).<ref>https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aPnvdIMk8HcPSATWtzvuzw "为你读诗【问烛】" Retrieved on July 18, 2017.</ref>
On June 29, 2011, the National Gallery of Canada launched an audio tour that was recorded by Dashan. The tour features Dashan speaking in Mandarin about the gallery's Canadian art collection.<ref>"National Gallery of Canada's new audio tours enhance its visitors' experience through enriched information on the national collection" Press release. Retrieved on June 30, 2011.</ref>
In 2024, Dashan returned to China to participate in the adaptation of Stephen King's The Shawshank Redemption directed by Zhang Guoli, playing the role of "Red", the narrator of the story.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When asked about the play’s sensitive themes, he said, “Sure, it’s about a corrupt system that makes you think you’re trapped and you’ll never get out. But really, it’s mostly about hope. What’s wrong with that?”<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Endorsements and cameo appearancesEdit
Dashan's name and image can often be seen in commercial endorsements for various Chinese and international companies, including Canadian Ford automobiles starting in 2007<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dashan is also active as a spokesman for several charity organizations, primarily involved with cancer prevention as well as environmental protection.
University of Toronto Governing CouncilEdit
On April 30, 2014, Dashan was appointed to a three-year term as a member of Governing Council of the University of Toronto, and was renewed for another three-year term in 2017. He also serves on the university's Asia International Leadership Council.<ref>https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/scripts/en/BoardDetails.asp?boardID=738 "University of Toronto Governing Council" Retrieved on July 18, 2017.</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Dashan married Gan Lin in 1993, and Template:As of, they have two children together. Since the late 1990s, Dashan has split his time between China and Canada, where his family has a farm near Newmarket, Ontario and a cottage near Algonquin Provincial Park.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
AwardsEdit
- In 1995, the National Film Board of Canada produced a documentary, directed by Guy Nantel , called Dashan, Ambassador to China's Funny Bone.<ref name="nfb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- In 1998, China's New Weekly Magazine chose Dashan as one of the "Outstanding People of the Past 20 Years".<ref>"Outstanding People of the Past 20 Years", New Weekly, December 1, 1998, p 73.</ref>
- In 1999, Time magazine selected Dashan as one of the "Leaders for the 21st Century".<ref>"A New Generation of Leaders", Time, September 27, 1999, p 66.</ref>
- In 2000, the University of Toronto selected Dashan as one of "100 Alumni Who Shaped the Century".<ref>"100 Alumni Who Shaped the Century", University of Toronto Magazine, Vol 27, No 3, Spring 2000, p 18.</ref>
- In 2004, Dashan also received a rare "Special Recognition Award" from the Canadian Cancer Society for his work on a joint Canada-China cancer prevention program.<ref>Canadian Cancer Society (October 14, 2004) China's Most Famous Foreigner to Receive Prestigious Canadian Cancer Society Award. Template:Webarchive Press release. Retrieved on September 18, 2007.</ref>
- In 2004, Dashan was chosen as one of "Ten Outstanding Young Adults of Beijing". This marked the first time a foreign national has received this award, one of the highest honours granted by the Beijing authorities.<ref>"Dashan Named 'Outstanding Youth of Beijing'", Xinhua News Agency, December 23, 2004. Retrieved on September 18, 2007.</ref>
- In 2006, Dashan was awarded the Key to the City of Ottawa, in recognition, as a native of Ottawa, of his contribution to furthering understanding between the peoples of China and Canada.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- In 2007, The Governor-General of Canada announced that Dashan had been appointed a member of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement. The appointment had been in effect since October 5, 2006.<ref>Governor General of Canada (February 20, 2007) Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada. Template:Webarchive Press Release. Retrieved on September 18, 2007.</ref>
- In 2008, Dashan was awarded the White Magnolia Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Dinner Game. This marks the first time a Westerner has received one of China's most prestigious awards for the performing arts.<ref>"Dashan Wins Best Supporting Actor White Magnolia for 'The Dinner Game'" Liberation Daily, March 14, 2008. Retrieved on October 1, 2008.</ref>
- In 2009, Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, BC, Canada) bestowed an Honorary Doctorate on Dashan recognizing his efforts to build global connections between cultures and economies through international education. The Honorary Doctorate was presented by TRU during its Convocation ceremony on June 26 at the Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, China.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- In 2018, Dashan was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Alberta.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>