But in fact, this performing artist is not a six-year-old boy, but Benchang You, the actor of the living Buddha in Ji Gong's Travels. As we all know, Benchang You gradually became a "late bloomer" after he was 50 years old, and he was 53 years old when he took part in Jigong. Therefore, when he was a guest on Degang Guo, Degang Guo, who has always been "gagging", showed great respect to this "old artist".
Degang Guo mentioned, "I also like Jigong very much, and I also want to play Jigong. Do you think I can play Jigong? How can there be such a fat person? " Benchang You laughed heartily: "Boy, the Buddha has no face and acts boldly." . "You created a new image of Jigong, performed him well, and benefited the audience". Benchang You's words fully show his mind and pattern as an old artist.
Later, Degang Guo really played the role of Jigong and created another image of Jigong. Many people say that Benchang You is not only a performing artist, but also has the personality characteristics of "helping the public": "universal love, approachable, common people bodhisattva". Now Benchang You is 88 years old, and nearly ten years have passed since that interview. Today, Benchang You still has optimistic personality and loves life, and actively promotes positive energy.
Speaking of this, many people will think of the six-year-old boy who plays the "Monkey King" mentioned at the beginning of the article. As far as Monkey Play is concerned, the Monkey King's image of six-year-old children is vivid, which no one can surpass for the time being. However, he and Benchang You are quite different in the tolerance of roles. Six-year-olds have repeatedly commented on many popular images of the Monkey King, including other versions of the Monkey King, such as "The Supreme Treasure". It's like pretending to be the most standard image of the Monkey King.
In addition, the six-year-old child also said, "What is an international superstar?" . This is in sharp contrast with Benchang You's "audience love comes first", which is also the reason why the style evaluation of six-year-old children is not very good. However, six-year-old children choose to comment on other types of the Monkey King images, probably because they love the image of the Monkey King, so they are very strict with the image of the Monkey King.
Benchang You's parents were shocked. "What does this mean?"
The monk thought for a moment and said, "Your child is predestined friends with the Buddha. If you don't take good care of it, I'm afraid it will be a disaster at the age of thirteen."
Benchang You's parents quickly asked, "Master, what should I do?"
The monk said, "Take it to the temple."
In this way, when Benchang You was 6 years old, he was sent to the Fazang Temple in Shanghai, where he worshipped Master Xing Ci as a teacher and gave him a dharma number.
Although he became a lay disciple, Benchang You himself was not particularly interested in Buddhism, but he especially liked performing.
So when he entered the university, Benchang You applied to Shanghai Theatre Academy without thinking.
At that time, Benchang You's parents were still a little worried, but Benchang You said, "If the master was right at that time, I would be 18 years old this year, and my bad luck would have passed long ago."
His parents thought for a long time before sending him to drama school.
Although he was assigned to the Central Theatre after graduation, Benchang You made no special progress in performance.
On one occasion, Benchang You's classmates recommended Benchang You to play the leading role. Unexpectedly, the director said, "No, he looks too ordinary."
Benchang You laughed at himself: "Impossible, I was born a walk-on."
By 1985, Benchang You was over 50 years old. I thought this was my life, and suddenly Jigong found the door.
At this time, Benchang You's wife called Benchang You and said, "Come back soon, old friend. Shanghai TV station called to invite you to play Jigong! "
Benchang You snorted and said, "really? Are you kidding? How did I hear that I was looking for Yan Shunkai to play? "
After hearing Benchang You's words, his wife hesitated and said, "I don't know yet. Why don't you ask? "
After hanging up the phone, Benchang You really hesitated, either because Yan Shunkai was his student.
Where can a teacher steal the role of a student?
It doesn't make sense.
So Benchang You was ready to forget it at first, but Director Ji Hong waited for a few days without waiting for a call from Benchang You, thought about it and called Benchang You again.
This time, Benchang You answered directly and asked, "I heard that you also invited Yan Shunkai to play this role?"
The director understood at once and immediately said, "No, no, that's another play, not ours."
Benchang You accepted the role with confidence.
In order to play Jigong well, Benchang You consulted a lot of materials and finally came to the conclusion: "Jigong, dirty and shabby, is chic and comfortable, punishing evil and promoting good, and this role should be a Buddhist."
Later, after filming Ji Gong, Benchang You appeared in Degang Guo's program.
Degang Guo exclaimed, "Can everyone play the role of Jigong? Are there any restrictions? "
Benchang You nodded and said, "There is no limit, anyone can play."
Degang Guo chug said, "what about me? Can I use this influence to help the public? "
Benchang You smiled and asked, "Why not? Look at you, smiling is the image of Jigong. "
Degang Guo said that he was very happy and immediately caught up with him. "Then take a look at it for me. If I want to play, I should learn something."
I thought Benchang You would show me a thing or two, but he shook his head and said, "I can only perform my own charity, not teach others."
Just when everyone thought that Degang Guo would continue to "pester" a few words, Degang Guo nodded again and again and said with admiration, "Some people are good teachers but not teachers. You are not ordinary. "
Benchang You waved. "I'm just an ordinary person."
Degang Guo gave a thumbs-up and said, "You are a good performer."
Benchang You smiled again and said, "No, the role of Jigong should have more possibilities. I am very willing to see people who play better than me. "
Degang Guo sighed, saying it was amazing, and then laughed at himself and said, "But I can't act. No living Buddha is as fat as me."
Benchang You shook his head and said, "Buddha has no phase."
It may also be because the elderly understand Buddhism, so they finally converted to Buddhism.
In fact, there are three amazing things when shooting Jigong, which is also one of the reasons why the old man chose to convert to Buddhism at the age of 76.
It is said that one scene was shot outdoors, and a butterfly kept flying around Benchang You. At this time, someone said, "Mr. You, I'm afraid this butterfly will fall on you."
Who knows that the voice just fell and the butterfly really stopped on Benchang You's fan? Benchang You smiled and said, "Do you have anything to say? Just go ahead. "
It was a joke, but the butterfly really moved forward after stopping.
This shocked everyone. I don't know why. Benchang You waved a fan and said, "All right, let's go."
Then the butterfly flew away again.
The second thing is that when Jigong fought against the Taoist priest with black wind, there was no wind outside, but shooting required strong winds.
Benchang You sighed with emotion: "If there is wind, it will not spoil the situation."
Then, suddenly, a strong wind blew.
It can be said that Master You's life revolves around the role of Jigong, and he is a person who really understands Buddhism all his life.
What really makes Jigong a classic is the dedication and seriousness of the elderly.