Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Zhang Yimou left a mark on me that has never faded, from the blazing crimson palettes of Red Sorghum and Raise the Red Lantern. A standard-bearer of China's Fifth Generation out of Xi'an, his command of color and composition is unmistakable, the eye of a painter more than a mere director. He swept the Golden Bear, Cannes, and beyond, then somehow also staged the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, a staggering range. He pushed Chinese cinema onto the world stage almost single-handedly, and for that I hold him in genuine awe as one of the great living filmmakers.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Zhang Yimou
- Name (Japanese)
- チャン・イーモウ
- Reading
- ちゃん・いーもう
- Born
- April 2, 1950 (age 76)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Tiger
- Origin
- Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film director / actor / screenwriter / film producer / cinematographer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2010 Asian Film Award for Lifetime Achievement
- 1999 Golden Rooster Award for Best Director
- 2000 Golden Rooster Award for Best Director
- 2003 Golden Rooster Award for Best Director
- 1988 Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor
- 2002 Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize
- 1994 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix
- 1988 Golden Bear
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Red Sorghum | — | |
| Notable work | Raise the Red Lantern | — | |
| Notable work | House of Flying Daggers | — | |
| Notable work | 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony | — | |
| Notable work | Ju Dou | — | |
| Notable work | The Story of Qiu Ju | — |
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BC%B5%E8%8A%B8%E8%AC%80
Frequently asked questions
When was Zhang Yimou born?
Born April 2, 1950 (age 76).
Where is Zhang Yimou from?
Zhang Yimou is from Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
What does Zhang Yimou do?
Zhang Yimou works as film director, actor, screenwriter, film producer, cinematographer.
What is Zhang Yimou known for?
Notable works include Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern, House of Flying Daggers.
Film director — see all → · Actor — see all → · More people from People's Republic of China →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-18
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.