"I am here to represent the martyrs in receiving this great honor, and we, the living, must carry on the unfinished mission of these heroes," said Tian Hua, the recipient of the honorary title "People's Artist."
Tian was awarded the title of People's Artist, an esteemed national honor recognizing an artist's exceptional contributions to the country, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), the actress expressed her deep gratitude to her nation and its people. "I feel that I am here to represent the martyrs in receiving this great honor. I would like to express my gratitude to my wonderful country and the people who raised me," said Tian.
From her roles in "The White-Haired Girl" to "The Daughter of the Party", this 97-year-old artist has starred in over 20 films. Reflecting on her life, she identified her pivotal moments as the most unforgettable.
"When I looked back at my life, my background and my experiences, I found the turning point was to join the army, the Eighth Route Army," said Tian.
Early in the summer of 1940, 12-year-old Tian Hua saw a play for the first time on a neighboring village's threshing ground. Captivated, she clapped enthusiastically and singing along when the music was played.
She put on a new purple dress the next day and asked to join the troupe. And she was accepted. She was given a stage name: Tian Hua, which later became a household name in China and has stayed with her throughout her life. "It was my love of singing and dancing that encouraged me to join the drama club in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region," said Tian.
Having experienced the harsh realities of war, Tian emerged stronger and more mature than the naive girl she once was.
"We were the performers at the backlines, following the troops wherever they went. When they went to battle, we performed Kuaiban (a traditional Chinese art) to send them off. They hurried valiantly to the frontlines with bags on their backs. But when the battle was over, many sacrificed their lives and failed to return. These scenes are etched in my memory," said Tian.
In the following 10 years, Tian found artistic inspiration, did vocal exercises, refined her Mandarin pronunciation, learned to sing, rehearsed dances, and performed dramas.
With her talent and hard-working spirit, Tian progressed rapidly within the troupe, soon becoming a popular actress.
Together, they traveled to various regions, performing plays and dramas for local audiences in makeshift tent stages, sometimes even in enemy-occupied areas.
After years of practice and performance amidst war, this village girl evolved into a warrior for national liberation and an actress with rich stage experience.
"A performing artist should reflect the people and the context of their time; that is the hallmark of a great actor," said Tian.
"I believe that a performing artist should be a social activist, like a sponge in the ocean, absorbing everything that can be used in the future. Observing life is an eternal task for a performer," said Tian.
Today, at the age of 97, Tian still maintains a busy daily routine, reading newspapers to stay up to date with the latest information about the Party and the state, practicing her performing skills, and writing letters to her late husband Su Fan, who died in 2016.
"I always say that it is the Party, the Eighth Route Army, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the Chinese people who have supported me and enabled me to learn and to live a healthy life. I wouldn’t be here without them. Therefore, whatever difficulties and sufferings I have encountered are not burdens for me, and they are not hardships for me. We are the survivors and we should complete the unfinished tasks of those who have passed away before us," said Tian.
Tian Hua: embracing legacy of martyrs as people's artist
