Anchee Min facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anchee Min
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| Born | January 14, 1957 Shanghai, China |
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| Occupation | Author | ||||||
| Citizenship | American | ||||||
| Education | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | ||||||
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| Children | 1 | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 闵安琪 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 閔安琪 | ||||||
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Anchee Min (simplified Chinese: 闵安琪; traditional Chinese: 閔安琪; pinyin: Mǐn Ānqí; born January 14, 1957) is a talented Chinese-American author. She lives in both San Francisco and Shanghai. Anchee Min is known for writing two memoirs, which are true stories about her own life. These books are called Red Azalea and The Cooked Seed: A Memoir. She has also written six historical novels. Her stories often feature strong female characters from history, like Jiang Qing, who was the wife of China's leader Mao Zedong, and Empress Dowager Cixi, a powerful empress who ruled China a long time ago.
Contents
Anchee Min's Early Life
Anchee Min was born in Shanghai, China, on January 14, 1957. Her parents were both teachers. When she was nine years old, a big political movement called the Cultural Revolution began in China. During this time, Anchee was part of a group called the Little Red Guards. She was asked to report her favorite teacher to the authorities, who was accused of being against the government's ideas.
Life on a Collective Farm
When Anchee Min was 17, she was sent to work on a collective farm. This farm was located near the East China Sea. Life there was very tough, and she often worked for 18 hours a day. She even suffered a spinal cord injury because of the hard work.
Becoming an Actress
While at the farm, Anchee Min was discovered by people from the Shanghai Film Studio. They chose her to become an actress because they thought she had the right look for their films. She even got the main role in a movie that was meant to promote government ideas, inspired by Jiang Qing, also known as Madame Mao.
However, this movie was never finished. After Mao Zedong died and Jiang Qing lost her power, Anchee Min faced difficulties. People treated her unfairly because of her connection to the unfinished film.
Moving to the United States
With help from her friend, the actress Joan Chen, Anchee Min was able to get a passport. Her aunt, who lived in Singapore, helped her apply to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She then moved to the United States. When she first arrived, she faced a challenge because she didn't speak English, which was different from what she had written on her visa application. But she was able to explain her situation and was allowed to enter the country.
After moving to the U.S., Anchee Min worked many jobs at the same time to support herself. She learned English by watching TV shows like Sesame Street.
Family and Education
Anchee Min was married to a Chinese artist named Qigu Jiang. They have a daughter named Lauryann, who later attended Stanford University.
In 1999, Anchee Min married Lloyd Lofthouse, who was a teacher and writer. They later divorced in 2015.
Anchee Min studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She earned two degrees there: a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Fine Arts.
See also
In Spanish: Anchee Min para niños
