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Zhou Xiaohong (traditional Chinese: 周小紅; simplified Chinese: 周小红; pinyin: Zhōu Xiǎohóng; Wade–Giles: Chou1 Hsiao3hung2; born Su Pu;[a] August 1, 1920 – September 22, 1957), known professionally as Zhou Xuan (Chinese: 周璇; pinyin: Zhōu Xuán), also romanized as Chow Hsuan (Wade–Giles: Chou1 Hsüan2), was a Chinese singer and film actress. By the 1940s, she had become one of China's Seven Great Singing Stars. Nicknamed the "Golden Voice" (金嗓子; Jīn sǎng zi), she was the best known of the seven, and had a concurrent movie career until 1954. She recorded more than 200 songs and appeared in over 40 films in her career.[1]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Zhou Xuan's original name was Su Pu. She was born on August 1, 1920 in an intellectual family in Wujin. Her father, Su Diaofu, graduated from Jinling University and worked as a pastor and teacher. Her mother, Gu Meizhen, graduated from Jinling Women's University. When Zhou Xuan was young, she was abducted to Jintang County by her opium-addicted uncle and separated from her biological parents. When she was six years old, she was adopted by the Zhou family in Shanghai and changed her name to Zhou Xiaohong. Her adoptive father was Zhou Wending and her adoptive mother was Ye Fengmei.[2]

At the age of 13, she took Zhou Xuan as her stage name, xuán (璇) meaning 'beautiful jade' in Chinese.

Career

[edit]
A hand-coloured photo of Zhou in the 1930s.

In 1932, Zhou began acting as a member of Li Jinhui's Bright Moon Song and Dance Troupe. When she was 12, she won second prize in a singing contest in Shanghai and was given the nickname "Golden Voice" (金嗓子) for her effortless high-pitched melodies.[1]

Zhou began her film career in 1935, and she achieved stardom in 1937 when director Yuan Muzhi cast her as one of the leads as a singing girl in Street Angel. Zhou rapidly became the most famous and marketable popular singer in the gramophone era up to her death, singing many famous tunes from her own movies.

Between 1946 and 1950, she often went to Hong Kong to make films such as "All-Consuming Love" (長相思), "Hua wai liu ying" (花外流鶯), Sorrows of the Forbidden City, and "Rainbow Song" (彩虹曲). After introducing "Shanghai Nights" (夜上海) in 1949, Zhou returned to Shanghai. She spent the next few years in and out of mental institutions owing to frequent breakdowns. Through the years, Zhou led a complicated and unhappy life marked by her failed marriages, illegitimate children, and suicide attempts. Zhou's first husband was the composer Yan Hua (嚴華, 1912–1992), who wrote and sometimes also performed songs with her.

Despite having made a total of 43 movies, her most well-known performance remained the 1937 film, Street Angel. This contained two theme songs: "Four Seasons Song" (四季歌) and "The Wandering Songstress", which enjoyed long-lasting popularity.[2] Other well-known songs by Zhou Xuan include "When Will You Return?", "Shanghai Nights" (title song from the film of the same name), "Yellow Leaves Dancing in the Autumn Wind" (黃葉舞秋風), "Eternal Smile" (永遠的微笑), "Hundred Flower Song" (百花歌), "Advice" (叮嚀), "Where Can the Soul Mate be Found" (知音何處尋), and "Picking Betel Nuts" (採檳榔).

Personal life

[edit]

In the autumn of 1936, Zhou Xuan and composer Yan Hua officially got engaged. On July 10, 1938, Zhou Xuan and Yan Hua held their wedding at the Spring Garden Hotel in Beijing. Zhou Xuan and Yan Hua's marriage lasted only three years because both parties suspected that the other had an affair due to rumors. After several quarrels, Zhou Xuan even ran away from home. In 1941, Zhou Xuan and Yan Hua divorced.

After divorcing Yan Hua, Zhou Xuan never married again. Zhou Xuan's second public relationship was with Shi Hui, but they broke up soon. The third public relationship was cohabitation with silk merchant Zhu Huaide . There is a saying that Zhu Huaide deceived Zhou Xuan with sweet words and cheated her of her feelings and part of her property. In 1950, after Zhou Xuan returned to Shanghai with her pregnancy, she published a statement in the newspaper, breaking up with Zhu Huaide; at the end of the year, Zhou Xuan's eldest son Zhou Min was born. Zhou Xuan's fourth public lover was Tang Di, who worked as an artist . In May 1952, Zhou Xuan was about to marry art teacher Tang Di, but Tang Di was sentenced to three years in prison by the Jing'an District People's Court on charges of fraud and seduction; in the same year, Zhou Xuan's second son Zhou Wei was born.[3]

Death

[edit]

In 1957, she died in Shanghai in a mental asylum at the age of 37.[4] A possible cause of death may be encephalitis following a nervous breakdown. Zhou's diary concluded that she suffered from cerebritis.

Zhou Xuan was survived by two sons, Zhou Min[5] and Zhou Wei, born of different fathers. Zhou Min was widely believed to be the son of the businessman Zhu Huaide, who left for Shanghai in 1950 after Zhou Xuan entrusted him with her savings and never returned; Zhou Min was born in that same year.[6] According to her elder son Zhou Min's biography, her younger son, Zhou Wei, was the son of the art designer Tang Di (唐棣), while the biological father of Zhou Min himself was not revealed.[7]

Zhou Wei currently lives in Toronto, where he performs at times in the TTC subways and participates in various musical projects, including teaching. He is a flautist.[8][9] He has two daughters, both musicians. The elder of the two, Zhou Xiaoxuan, is a classical pianist trained at Concordia University and now living in Beijing. The youngest, Amanda Zhou, is taking a similar path as an actress and has already worked on a few shows and films.

Cultural legacy

[edit]
Zhou Xuan

To this day, Zhou Xuan's songs still remain a staple in many Golden Oldies collections in Mandarin popular music.

There have been two biographies written by Zhou Xuan's surviving family members. The book My Mother Zhou Xuan (我的媽媽周璇) was written by Zhou Wei and his wife Chang Jing (常晶); while a later book, Zhou Xuan Diary (周璇日記), was written by Zhou Min.

Television

[edit]

An adaptation of the life of Zhou Xuan was produced in TVB's Song Bird (1989), starring Adia Chan as Zhou Xuan and Leon Lai as her lover. In this series, Xuan's songs were re-written in Cantonese and sung by Chan. She sang duets with Lai in the program while under Crown Records (娛樂唱片). Deric Wan replaced Lai's vocals on the soundtrack album.[citation needed]

Another adaptation, based on Zhou Wei's biography, is the Chinese serial titled Zhou Xuan (周璇), starring Cecilia Cheung. This version of the story was accused by Zhou Wei as a false representation of Zhou Xuan and damaging to the reputation of the Zhou family.[10]

Filmography

[edit]
Poster of the film Meng Lijun (1940)
  • 狂歡之夜 (1935)
  • Street Angel (馬路天使, 1937)
  • Romance of the West Chamber (西廂記, 1940)
  • Meng Lijun (孟麗君, 1940)
  • Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢, 1944)
  • Night Inn (夜店, 1947)
  • An All-Consuming Love (長相思, 1947)
  • Sorrows of the Forbidden City (清宮秘史, 1948)
  • Orioles Banished from the Flowers (花外流鶯, 1948)
  • Song of a Songstress (歌女之歌, 1948)
  • Waste Not Our Youth (莫負青春, 1949)
  • The Flower Street (花街, 1950)

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Zhou Xuan

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Zhou Xuan (1920–1957) was a pioneering Chinese singer and film actress, renowned as the "Golden Voice" of Shanghai and one of the "Seven Great Singing Stars" of the 1940s, whose melodic voice and on-screen presence defined the golden age of pre-revolutionary Chinese cinema and popular music. Born Su Pu in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, near Shanghai, Zhou endured a difficult childhood marked by abduction and sale by her opium-addicted uncle, before being adopted by a Shanghainese family surnamed Zhou, which inspired her stage name. She began her artistic journey in 1931 by joining the Bright Moon Song and Dance Troupe under the guidance of composer Li Jinhui, and gained early recognition in 1934 after winning a singing competition in Shanghai that propelled her into the spotlight. By the mid-1930s, she transitioned to film, debuting in sound-era productions and quickly becoming a versatile star who blended acting with musical performance, starring in over 43 movies that often featured her singing integrated into the narrative. Her breakthrough came with the 1937 film Street Angel, where she portrayed a resilient street performer and sang the iconic "When Will You Return?", a song that captured the era's wartime anxieties and became an enduring anthem of longing and nostalgia. Other landmark works included Malaya (1939), Song of the Exile (1940), and The Angel in the Street (1940), in which her renditions of "Four Seasons Song" and "The Female Singer" solidified her status as a cultural , with her light, emotive influencing generations of performers. Despite personal struggles, including societal scrutiny over her relationships and a mental breakdown in 1951 amid political upheavals, Zhou continued working sporadically until her death from on September 22, 1957, at age 37, leaving a legacy as a symbol of elegance and resilience in modern Chinese entertainment history.

Biography

Early life

Zhou Xuan was born Su Pu on August 1, 1920, in , Province, , into a modest facing economic hardships typical of early 20th-century rural life. Some sources suggest a birth year of 1918, reflecting inconsistencies in historical records, but 1920 is widely accepted based on contemporary accounts. Her early years were marked by family instability, as poverty forced her separation from her biological parents at a young age; she was reportedly abducted and sold by an opium-addicted uncle, leading to a childhood of uncertainty and survival challenges. Adopted by a Shanghainese family surnamed Zhou, she took the name Zhou Xiaohong and experienced further instability, including periods of living in where she performed on streets to help sustain herself. Her singing talent emerged around age 5 or 7, noticed during informal performances, though formal recognition came later through adoptive family support and local opportunities. These experiences in a turbulent , amid China's Republican era upheavals, shaped her resilience and early affinity for music as an escape. In 1931, at age 11, Zhou relocated to Shanghai seeking better prospects, joining the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe as a dancer and child performer in small ensembles. Her formal education was limited, with only basic self-taught literacy amid the demands of survival and performance; however, she absorbed influences from traditional Chinese opera through local troupes and Western music via emerging radio broadcasts, blending these elements in her developing artistry. This period laid the groundwork for her vocal style, combining folk melodies with modern rhythms heard on airwaves.

Career beginnings

In 1931, at the age of around 11, Zhou Xuan was introduced to the entertainment industry through a family acquaintance and joined Li Jinhui's Bright Moon Song and Dance Troupe in , marking her entry as a trainee singer and dancer. Li Jinhui, recognized as the founder of modern Chinese , provided her with essential vocal coaching and dance lessons, helping her develop her skills amid the troupe's performances at venues like the Great World amusement center. The following year, in 1932, she adopted the stage name "Zhou Xuan," derived from her adoptive family's surname and a character meaning "beautiful jade," to professionalize her identity in the competitive Republican-era scene. In 1934, Zhou won a national singing competition in , earning her the nickname "Golden Voice" and early recognition. Zhou's initial foray into came in 1935, when she began taking minor roles and extra parts in Shanghai productions, building her on-screen experience while continuing troupe performances and radio appearances. One early appearance was a minor role in Children of Troubled Times (亂世兒女), where she performed her first on-screen song, honing her dual talents as actress and vocalist. These roles, though limited, exposed her to the technical demands of sound cinema, which had recently emerged in , and allowed her to transition from stage to screen under the guidance of industry figures like Li Jinhui. By 1935, Zhou secured her first recording contract with (operated as Pathé Orient in ), a leading label that dominated the Chinese music market and facilitated her shift toward singing prominence. Her debut releases included early tracks like "Spring Wind" (Chunfeng), which captured the light, melodic style of popular music and showcased her clear, versatile voice, earning initial notice among listeners. However, her beginnings were fraught with challenges, including low pay as a , exploitative contracts common in 's cutthroat , and criticism of troupe music as ""—deemed decadent for its Western influences and association with urban nightlife—amid a fiercely competitive field dominated by foreign-backed studios during the Republican era.

Rise to stardom

Zhou Xuan's breakthrough came in 1937 with her role as the songstress in the film Street Angel (馬路天使), directed by Yuan Muzhi for the Lianhua Film Company. In this leftist drama set in Shanghai's slums, she portrayed a resilient young woman forced into a to support her family, singing the iconic "The Wandering Songstress" (天涯歌女), composed by He Luting with lyrics by . The song's poignant melody and her clear, emotive vocals captured the hardships of urban poverty, propelling the film to immediate success and making Zhou a nationwide sensation as her performance resonated with audiences amid rising social tensions. Following Street Angel, Zhou starred in several key films that solidified her image as the archetype of the innocent yet tragic heroine, often blending vulnerability with subtle defiance in the "Zhou Xuan type" that influenced Chinese cinema's portrayal of women during the late 1930s. In Malaya (1939), produced by Yihua Film Company, she played a lead role alongside Ma Lufen, exploring themes of romance and societal constraints in a rapidly modernizing Shanghai. Her performance in City of Desire (1939) further emphasized her ability to convey emotional depth in stories of urban longing and moral dilemmas, contributing to her status as a leading figure in the golden age of Shanghai cinema. These roles highlighted her versatility in musical dramas, where her singing integrated seamlessly with narrative tension. Zhou's musical output during this period was prolific, with hits that defined Shanghai's urban soundscape and influenced youth culture. She recorded "Night Shanghai" (夜上海) in 1937, a lively depiction of the city's nightlife that evoked both glamour and underlying unease; "Fragrant Olive" (桂花) in 1938, a tender ballad celebrating natural beauty amid turmoil; and "Wishing You Well" (祝你萬安) in 1940, a wistful farewell song reflecting personal and national sentiments. These tracks resulted from collaborations with prominent composers, including Nie Er, whose leftist influences shaped early resistance-themed pieces like those in pre-1937 films, and He Luting, who crafted the scores for Street Angel and other works emphasizing melodic simplicity and emotional resonance. By 1940, Zhou had recorded over 100 songs, many released on Pathé Records, cementing her "Golden Voice" nickname—earned from a 1934 Shanghai singing contest but amplified by her cinematic successes—and inspiring urban youth with melodies that subtly critiqued social inequities during the buildup to Japanese occupation. Her rising fame brought formal recognition, including early nods for at Shanghai's inaugural film awards in the late , where Street Angel was hailed for its progressive storytelling. In 1939, Zhou embarked on international tours to , performing in cities like and to promote Chinese cinema and music, further establishing her as a cultural ambassador amid global uncertainties. These achievements marked her peak as a multifaceted star, blending song, screen, and subtle activism in pre-war Shanghai's vibrant entertainment scene.

Later career and challenges

During the Japanese occupation of from 1937 to 1945, Zhou Xuan remained active in Shanghai's during the initial "Orphan Island" period, when the city was isolated from direct Japanese control until late 1941. She starred in patriotic-themed films such as Orphan Island Paradise (Gudao Tian Tang, 1939), which depicted the struggles of ordinary people amid the Sino-Japanese War and was later screened successfully in for twelve days, moving audiences with its emotional resonance. As the occupation intensified, she relocated to and to continue her work, contributing to wartime productions that emphasized national resistance, including efforts aligned with the Nationalist government's propaganda needs in the wartime capital of . Following Japan's surrender in 1945, Zhou Xuan returned to but faced the chaos of the ongoing , which disrupted film production and distribution. She appeared in several post-war films with romantic and musical elements, such as Forever in My Heart (1947), which featured her singing hits like "Age of Bloom" and "Night Life in " against the backdrop of wartime , and Sorrows of the (1948), a co-starring Shu Shi. Other notable roles included Orioles Banished from the Flowers (1948) and Song of a Songstress (1948), both directed by Fang Peilin and semi-autobiographical in tone, reflecting her enduring popularity as a singer-actress amid economic instability. By mid-1948, amid China's deepening , she relocated to , where she collaborated with Shanghai expatriates and composers like on Mandarin musicals, including Enjoy While Young (1949). Zhou Xuan's career encountered significant challenges in the late and , exacerbated by personal health issues and shifting political landscapes. She suffered from problems, including a nervous breakdown linked to personal turmoil, leading to multiple hospitalizations and eventual admission to the Hongqiao in 1952. These issues stemmed in part from a injury that contributed to her reliance on painkillers, impairing her performances and public appearances. Rumors of blacklisting emerged in the early Communist era due to her pre-1949 associations with Shanghai's "decadent" entertainment scene and Nationalist-linked productions, as her lyrical, romantic singing style—epitomized by songs like "Full Moon and Blooming Flowers"—was criticized as bourgeois and incompatible with the new socialist aesthetic favoring mass songs and revolutionary themes. Her final major works marked a gradual withdrawal from the spotlight. After returning briefly to , she starred in The Flower Street (1950) and Pigeon of Peace (1951), but by 1951, she largely retired from acting amid the industry's transition to socialist cinema under the , which prioritized ideological content over her signature romantic musicals. Sporadic singing engagements continued until around 1956, including contributions to Rainbow as You Wish (1953), though her output diminished as state-controlled studios emphasized collective narratives. Her last film appearance was in Message of Spring (1957), a minor role reflecting the reduced demand for pre-revolutionary stars in the evolving cinematic landscape.

Death

In her final years, Zhou Xuan experienced a severe decline in , leading to her institutionalization in 1956 at Shanghai's Hongqiao Mental Sanatorium (now part of the ), where she was treated for depression and complications from long-term that began during her earlier career. Her condition showed temporary improvement under the care of director Su Zonghua, who administered emerging antipsychotic medications such as , but she remained under observation amid ongoing struggles with possible schizophrenia-like symptoms. On September 22, 1957, at the age of 37, Zhou Xuan died in from acute , a respiratory illness that was exacerbated by her chronic dependency and the physical toll of during treatment. The official cause on her was listed as secondary to , as confirmed by family accounts and medical records from Huashan Hospital, where she had been transferred from the just days earlier after developing a high fever. Her funeral was a subdued state-organized ceremony at 's Wanguo Funeral Home on September 25, 1957, attended by a limited number of family members, colleagues, and officials, reflecting the restrained atmosphere of the ongoing . Zhou Xuan was initially buried at Wanguo Cemetery, but her remains were exhumed and relocated to Fushou Garden Cemetery in suburban during the 1990s as part of urban redevelopment efforts. Immediate public reactions were muted due to the repressive political climate, with mourning largely confined to private circles among fans and artists; however, early tributes in state media, including articles in the , briefly acknowledged her pioneering contributions to Chinese film and music before broader discussions were curtailed.

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

Zhou Xuan's romantic life was characterized by short-lived marriages and affairs that attracted intense scrutiny from Shanghai's tabloid press, often undermining her public persona as a symbol of purity and innocence. Her first marriage occurred in 1938 to composer Yan Hua, who had mentored her early in her career by teaching her to read music notation and speak Mandarin. The wedding took place on July 10 at Beijing's Spring Garden Hotel, but the union lasted only three years, dissolving in 1941 due to mutual suspicions of sparked by circulating rumors. Zhou publicly declared the through a newspaper announcement, explicitly waiving any rights to property or to facilitate a swift resolution. In the mid-1940s, following wartime relocations, Zhou began a relationship with Shi Hui around 1947; the two had long admired each other's work from afar, but the romance ended shortly after they met, without leading to . Rumors persisted of additional entanglements with other figures during this period, fueling tabloid speculation. During her relationship with Hong Kong businessman Zhu Huaide starting in 1945, Zhou cohabited with the silk merchant who promised but abandoned her upon learning she was pregnant with their son in the mid-1940s. This betrayal became a major scandal, with extensive coverage in Shanghai newspapers highlighting the contrast to her wholesome image and prompting public sympathy amid her return to the mainland. Zhou's second marriage, to art designer Tang Di in 1951, produced another but collapsed within a year when Tang was imprisoned for financial irregularities in 1952, resulting in . These personal upheavals, including proceedings over settlements in the , were sensationalized in , contributing to ongoing controversies that shadowed her stardom during and after the .

Family and children

Zhou Xuan was the mother of two sons, Zhou Min (born to Zhu Huaide in the late 1940s) and Zhou Wei (born to Tang Di in 1951). Her elder son, Zhou Min, was born during the later stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the ensuing , a period that disrupted family life and led to temporary separations for the child due to wartime conditions; he was later reunited with his mother after the conflict's end. The younger son, Zhou Wei, spent much of his early years living with his father, seeing his mother only sporadically before her death when he was about six years old. Zhou Xuan's intense career demands, including frequent film shoots and performances, significantly limited her direct involvement in raising her sons, resulting in reliance on nannies for daily care and, in the case of Zhou Min, enrollment in boarding schools in for both safety during political instability and educational opportunities. Her brother played a key role in supporting household management and providing stability for the family during her periods of peak fame and travel. By the time of her death in 1957, neither of her parents survived to assist, leaving the extended Su family in as distant relations with limited involvement in her immediate household dynamics. Following Zhou Xuan's passing, her sons faced challenges in their upbringing as orphans, eventually being adopted by actress Huang Zongying and her husband Zhao Dan, who provided them with a home in . However, post-death inheritance disputes emerged over her assets, including valuable properties in , pitting the brothers against each other and their adoptive family in legal battles that highlighted strained familial bonds. Zhou Min pursued interests in , while Zhou Wei focused on and later contributed to cultural preservation; both brothers publicly honored their mother's legacy through 1980s publications, including Zhou Wei's co-authored My Mother Zhou Xuan (1987) and Zhou Min's Zhou Xuan Diary (1982), where they shared personal insights into her life and parenting struggles.

Legacy

Cultural impact

Zhou Xuan played a pivotal role in popularizing shidaiqu, the fusion genre of modern Chinese popular music that emerged in 1920s , blending Western and pop with traditional Chinese melodies to evoke urban modernity. As a leading performer, her recordings and film songs epitomized the sophistication of 1930s-1940s cosmopolitan life in Republican-era , while also channeling anti-Japanese resistance during the Second Sino-Japanese War; for instance, her 1937 hit "When Will You Return?" became an anthem expressing longing amid wartime separation and national crisis. Regarded as an icon of glamour, Zhou Xuan embodied the idealized femininity of the Republican period, portraying elegant, resilient women in attire that symbolized modernity and allure in urban settings. Her poised screen presence and vocal style influenced subsequent performers, including Bai Guang, who adopted similar sultry tones in the , and post-1949 actresses navigating socialist cinema's evolving depictions of womanhood. Affectionately known as a "" in Chinese cultural memory, Zhou Xuan recorded over 200 songs during her career, many of which remain staples in performances and media, preserving the essence of pre-Communist . Her contributions to and film soundtracks have been recognized in broader efforts to safeguard China's musical heritage, underscoring her enduring status as a symbol of artistic excellence. Zhou Xuan's legacy features prominently in academic studies of Chinese film history, such as Yingjin Zhang's analysis of 1930s Shanghai cinema, where she is highlighted as a central figure bridging music, urban culture, and . Her work also resonated in diaspora communities, particularly in and , where shidaiqu styles informed postwar Mandopop and film traditions, fostering cultural continuity among . Beyond entertainment, Zhou Xuan's portrayals of tragic, wandering heroines have inspired feminist interpretations that explore gendered vulnerability and agency in Republican cinema, framing her as an avatar of national suffering and female resilience during turbulent times.

Depictions in media

Zhou Xuan's life and legacy have been portrayed in various biopics and television adaptations since her death in 1957, often emphasizing her rise as a singing star amid the turbulent era of . The 1989 Hong Kong series Song Bird (金嗓子), directed by Wong Tin-lam, stars Nadia Chan as Zhou, depicting her journey from a street performer to a film icon, with portraying her lover Tang Yuhan; the series draws on her real-life struggles with and relationships. In 2008, mainland 's Zhou Xuan (周璇), a 40-episode drama produced by TV, features in the lead role, exploring her career highs in films like Street Angel (1937) and personal tragedies, including her institutionalization; supporting cast includes Ambrose Hsu and Penny Lin. Her songs have inspired numerous covers by later artists, reinterpreting her shidaiqu style for new audiences. recorded renditions of Zhou's hits in the , including "When Will You Come Again?" (何日君再來) from the 1937 film Three Stars with the Moon, which Teng sang in her 1978 album and live performances, blending Zhou's melancholic melody with Teng's softer vocals to evoke nostalgia for pre-war . Teng also covered "The Wandering Songstress" (天涯歌女) from Street Angel, featuring it in concerts and albums like her 1970s EMI releases, which popularized the track across . Television series and documentaries have referenced or documented Zhou's influence. The 1980 Hong Kong series (上海灘), starring , includes episodes alluding to her as a symbol of Shanghai glamour, with her songs like those from Night in Shanghai playing in background scenes to underscore the era's cultural vibrancy. CCTV's 2005 documentary Actress & Singer Zhou Xuan in the (女演员周璇), part of the E-Documentary series, chronicles her early radio career and film breakthrough using archival footage and interviews, highlighting her as one of China's first stars. In , contemporaries have reflected on Zhou through memoirs that capture her persona as the "Golden Voice." Theater adaptations in during the 2000s have dramatized her story; for instance, a 2005 stage production directed by Wang Jiana and Bai Yongcheng, staged at the , focused on her off-screen life and career, blending musical numbers with narrative to evoke her tragic romance. Recent has revived interest in Zhou's music among younger generations. In the 2020s, viral covers of tracks like "The Wandering Songstress" have garnered millions of views, with users like @verathemusic performing acoustic versions during celebrations, blending traditional melodies with modern beats to attract global audiences. Her songs also feature prominently in streaming playlists curated for retro Chinese pop, such as Spotify's "Best of Chinese Music Zhou Xuan" compilation, which includes 39 tracks like "Night " and has streamed widely on platforms like and , positioning her as a foundational artist in vintage revival.

Works

Filmography

Zhou Xuan appeared in over 40 films from 1935 to 1953, many of which were musicals showcasing her singing voice and contributing to her status as a leading star of Chinese cinema during the Republican era. Her roles often portrayed resilient women, from innocent villagers to tragic figures, blending acting with musical performances. Several films from this period were produced under challenging conditions, including wartime disruptions, and some nitrate prints were later preserved through archival efforts.

1930s

During the 1930s, Zhou Xuan transitioned from minor roles to stardom, starring in films produced mainly by studios like Mingxing and Lianhua. Key entries include:
  • 1935: The Beauty's Favour – minor role.
  • 1935: Children of Trouble Times – dancer hostess.
  • 1935: Anthurium Night – supporting role.
  • 1936: Carnival Night – lead singer role.
  • 1936: – lead.
  • 1936: Map of Treasures – supporting.
  • 1937: All Loves – minor.
  • 1937: Street Angel (dir. Yuan Muzhi, Lianhua Film Company) – , a street performer; notable songs: "Song of the Four Seasons" and "The Wandering Songstress."
  • 1937: Joyous Day – lead.
  • 1937: Stars Moving Around the Moon – supporting singer.
  • 1937: The Wealthy Woman – minor.
  • 1939: Li San Niang – lead warrior role.
  • 1939: Dong Xiao Wan (aka The Story of Dong Xiaowan) – courtesan Dong Xiaowan.
  • 1939: Meng Jiang Nu – Meng Jiangnu, the legendary weeping wife.
  • 1939: Out of the Hell – lead.
  • 1939: The New Hell – supporting.

1940s

The 1940s saw Zhou Xuan working across , , and wartime studios, including China United Film Company during the Japanese occupation; approximately five to six projects from this era were lost or censored due to wartime destruction and political sensitivities. She starred in adaptations of classical tales and contemporary dramas, often featuring original songs.
  • 1940: Romance of Su San – Su San, a framed courtesan.
  • 1940: Meng Lijun – Meng Lijun, a disguised female scholar.
  • 1940: The West Chamber (aka Romance of the West Chamber) – matchmaker; notable for musical sequences.
  • 1941: The Night – lead.
  • 1941: Wandering Songstress – wandering singer.
  • 1941: Imperial Concubine Mei – Imperial Concubine Mei.
  • 1941: A Talking Flower – lead in fantasy role.
  • 1943: Daughter of the Fisherman (China United Film Company) – fisherman's daughter; wartime production.
  • 1944: Feng Huang Yu Fei (aka Songs of Harmony) – lead.
  • 1944: Dream of the Red Mansions – Lin Daiyu, the tragic heroine.
  • 1944: The Happy Couple (aka Luan Feng He Ming) – romantic lead.
  • 1947: Night Inn – Shi Xiaomei, an inn worker.
  • 1947: Cherish the Memory of Jiangnan (aka Recall to Jiangnan) – dual role as innocent country girl and spoiled socialite.
  • 1947: An All-Consuming Love – Li Xiangmei; Hong Kong production, later archived.
  • 1947: You're Smart in One Way, I'm in Another – Yu Bihua.
  • 1948: Orioles Banished from the Flowers – Zhou Ying; Hong Kong film, preserved in archives.
  • 1948: Song of a Songstress – Zhu Lan/Liu Ma, dual roles.
  • 1948: Sorrows of the Forbidden City (dir. Zhu Shilin) – Concubine Zhen.
  • 1949: Waste Not Our Youth – Ah Xiu/Fairy, dual role.

1950s

Zhou Xuan's later films were fewer, reflecting health issues and political changes after 1949; her final project remained uncompleted.
  • 1950: The Flower Street – Daping / Xiao Hu's daughter.
  • 1950: The Peaceful Pigeon – lead; uncompleted and unreleased.
  • 1952: The Closer the Better – supporting.
  • 1953: The Magic World of Filmdom – cameo.
  • 1953: Rainbow Rhythms (aka Rainbow as You Wish) – musical lead.
In the 1990s, the China Film Archive and Hong Kong Film Archive undertook restorations of several of her works, including nitrate prints of Hong Kong productions like An All-Consuming Love and Orioles Banished from the Flowers, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

Discography

Zhou Xuan's recording career began in the mid-1930s, primarily with Pathé Records (百代唱片), where she released her earliest singles as a teenager. Her debut efforts included tracks like "桃花江" (Peach Blossom River) in 1935, recorded with collaborator Yan Hua for His Master's Voice, marking her entry into commercial music production. By 1936–1937, she transitioned to Pathé, issuing hits such as "何日君再來" (When Will You Return?) and "天涯歌女" (The Wandering Songstress) on 78 rpm shellac discs, which showcased her versatile voice blending traditional Chinese melodies with Western jazz influences. Over her lifetime, she amassed more than 200 recordings across labels like Pathé and EMI (Odéon), many as standalone singles rather than film tie-ins. In the , amid wartime disruptions, Zhou continued releasing material, including compilations that gathered her popular tracks. Labels produced collections like the "Zhou Xuan Song Collection" series, featuring anthologies of her early hits reissued for broader distribution in and . Wartime efforts in included 1942 releases of patriotic-themed singles under , such as adaptations supporting anti-Japanese resistance, recorded during her exile from . Notable non-film songs from this period include "聽雨" (Listening to the Rain) in 1940, a melancholic emphasizing personal , and "春江花月夜" (Moonlight on the Spring River) in , a collaboration with traditional orchestras that highlighted her classical training. These tracks, often backed by small ensembles, numbered around 100 during the decade and were pressed on 78 rpm discs for radio play and sale. Following the 1949 establishment of the , Zhou's output diminished due to political shifts and health issues, limited to occasional state radio broadcasts in the on platforms like Shanghai Radio, where she performed live versions of pre-war favorites for and cultural programs. Her final commercial releases were sparse, with no major new singles after 1950. Posthumously, her catalog saw reissues, including CD compilations by the China Record Company, such as the "Golden Voice of Zhou Xuan" series, which remastered over 50 tracks from original 78 rpm masters for modern audiences. In the , digital platforms have facilitated further accessibility, with compilations like the 2022 album 天堂歌 (Paradise Song) released on streaming services. Among her lesser-known contributions are an estimated 50 unreleased or lost materials, including private demos and damaged 78 rpm records from Pathé sessions, preserved only in fragments by collectors and archives. These include experimental wartime recordings that never reached commercial pressing due to material shortages. While many of her songs appeared in films (as detailed in the Filmography section), her standalone discography emphasized her role as a pioneering shidaiqu (era song) artist.

Major Releases

YearTitleLabelFormatNotes
1935桃花江 / 蘇武牧羊 (Peach Blossom River / Su Wu Tends Sheep)78 rpm singleEarly collaboration with Yan Hua; one of her first commercial tracks.
1937何日君再來 (When Will You Return?)78 rpm singleBreakthrough non-film hit.
1937天涯歌女 / 四季歌 (The Wandering Songstress / Song of Four Seasons)78 rpm singleIconic wartime anthem; adapted for radio broadcasts.
1939百花歌 / 春花如錦 (Song of a Hundred Flowers / Spring Flowers Like Brocade)78 rpm singleCelebratory non-film piece; orchestral backing.
1940聽雨 / 歌女淚 (Listening to the Rain / Tears of the Songstress)78 rpm singleIntrospective ballad; limited pressing during occupation.
1942Patriotic Songs Collection (various titles) (Hong Kong)78 rpm EPWartime releases supporting resistance; includes adapted folk tunes.
1947春江花月夜 (Moonlight on the Spring River)78 rpm singleTraditional arrangement with ; one of her last major non-film efforts.
1959Songs by Chow Hsuan Vol. I: 天涯歌女 (The Wandering Songstress)LP compilationPostwar reissue of 1930s–1940s tracks; first in a seven-volume series.
1970周璇白光之歌 (Songs of Zhou Xuan and Bai Guang)Asia Records ()LP compilationJoint retrospective; includes rare duets.
1985金嗓子 周璇 (Golden Voice of Zhou Xuan)China Record CompanyCassette/CD reissueRemastered 50+ tracks; major 1980s revival effort.
2022天堂歌 (Paradise Song)Various (digital)Digital compilationModern streaming release compiling classic tracks.

References

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