Peng Liyuan | |
|---|---|
| 彭丽媛 | |
| First Lady of China | |
| Assumed office 14 March 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Liu Yongqing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 20, 1962 Yuncheng County, Shandong, People's Republic of China |
| Spouse | Xi Jinping |
| Children | Xi Mingze |
| Residence | Beijing |
| Alma mater | China Conservatory of Music |
| Occupation | Musicians |
Peng Liyuan (simplified Chinese: 彭丽媛; traditional Chinese: 彭麗媛; pinyin: Péng Lìyuán; born November 20, 1962) a renowned Chinese contemporary folk singer and performing artist. She is the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and as such referred to as the "Chinese First Lady" by American and Chinese media.[1]
Peng is the Dean of the Art Academy of the People's Liberation Army. She gained popularity as a singer from her regular appearances on the annual CCTV New Year's Gala, a widely viewed mainland Chinese television program that airs during the Chinese New Year.[2] She has won many honors in singing competitions nationwide.[2] Her most famous works include People from Our Village (父老乡亲), Mount Chomolungma (珠穆朗玛), and On the Plains of Hope (在希望的田野上). Peng is a civilian member of China's People's Liberation Army and holds the civilian rank equivalent to major general.[2] She was the first in China to obtain a master's degree in traditional ethnic music when the degree was established in the 1980s.
Biography
Peng Liyuan is a native of Yuncheng County, Shandong. Peng joined the People's Liberation Army in 1980 when she was 18. She began as an ordinary soldier, but with her vocal talent later performed at PLA performances to boost troop morale.[3] Peng first performed nationally and came to fame during the earliest rendition of the CCTV New Year's Gala in 1982, when she performed On the Plains of Hope.
She has been married to PRC paramount leader Xi Jinping for over 25 years;[2] they have a daughter named Xi Mingze (习明泽) born in 1992, nicknamed as Xiao Muzi (小木子).[4] For the greater part of their relationship, Peng has had a considerable reputation within China, comparable to that of her politician husband.[5] Since her husband became the leader of the PRC, American press likes to call her the first lady of China.[2]
Xi and Peng were introduced by friends like many Chinese couples in the 1980s. Xi was reputedly academic during their courtship, inquiring about ethnic Chinese music.[2] Xi was the son of famous Chinese revolutionary Xi Zhongxun, and Peng's family obviously accepted the relationship with ease, due to his attitude. After parental consent, the couple married on September 1, 1987 in Xiamen, Fujian. Four days later, Peng Liyuan returned to Beijing to appear in the national art festival and then immediately left for the United States and Canada to perform. Since then they have led largely separate lives, with Peng spending most of her time in Beijing and her husband in Fujian and later Zhejiang.
Peng has performed at almost every CCTV New Year's Gala since its inception except in 2008 after her husband's promotion. Her songs focus on ethnic or rural Chinese themes, and deal with a wide range of emotions expressed by ordinary rural citizens. She earned bachelor and master degrees from the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
Peng is actively involved in politics herself, and is a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
References
- ^ Guhantai news 3/30/2013
- ^ a b c d e f Page, Jeremy (February 13, 2012, 5:55 PM HKT). "Meet China's Folk Star First Lady-in-Waiting". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 07, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Peng Liyuan describes her own time in the army" (in Chinese). CE.cn. 2004-07-01. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ Staff Reporter (February 16, 2012). "Red Nobility: Xi Jinping's Harvard daughter". Want China Times. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ Page, Jeremy (February 13, 2012, 5:55 PM HKT). "Meet China's Folk Star First Lady-in-Waiting". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 07, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help)
External links
- Kavanagh, Jim. "Peng Liyuan." CNN. January 20, 2011.
- "China's Likely Next First Lady is a Famous Singer" The New York Times, February 14, 2012
- "China's incoming first lady a challenge for the image makers". Julie Makinen, Los Angeles Times October 21, 2012
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1 - Wife of Zhu De / 2 - Wife of Ye Jianying, both are Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress - spouse of the de jure Head of State under the 1975 Constitution & 1978 Constitution |
