Chiang Sheng (Chinese: 江生; born Chiu Kang Sang 趙岡生; April 27, 1951 - August 18, 1991) was a Taiwanese martial arts actor, director, and action director. Chiang rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a member of the Venom Mob, a group of actors at Shaw Brothers Studio renowned for their acrobatic and martial arts skills.

江生
Chiang Sheng
Born
趙岡生 (Chiu Kang Sang)

(1951-04-27)April 27, 1951
DiedAugust 18, 1991(1991-08-18) (aged 40)
Taichung, Taiwan
Other namesKong Sang
Chiu Gong-Sang
Chao Gang-Sheng
Chao Kang-Sheng
Chiang Shang
Chiu Kang-Seng
Kwong Sang
Chao Kon-Sen
Jiang Sheng
Cutie Pie
Occupation(s)Actor, action director, director
Years active1973-1989
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese江生
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinjiang1 sheng1
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggong1 saang1

Early life

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Chiang Sheng was born on April 27, 1951, to a large family in Taiwan. He was sent to the Fu Sheng Drama School in Taipei where he met his future costars Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, and Robert Tai. They, together with students from other drama schools, earned pocket money playing extras in films that were being shot nearby.[1] In addition to being trained as a martial arts opera performer, Chiang was also enlisted in the army.[2] When he was 19, Chiang and Kwok briefly worked as street performers dubbed the Fu Xing circus act.[3] He was fond of drinking.[4]

Career

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In 1975, Chiang was recruited by Chang Cheh along with Kwok and Lu and signed with the Shaw Brothers. He relocated to Hong Kong where he was predominantly cast as extras in films such as Shaolin Traitorous with Sammo Hung before landing a more prominent role in Shaolin Temple in 1976. In 1978, Chiang, Kwok, Lu, along with fellow newcomers Sun Chien, Lo Mang, and Wai Pak, were cast in Five Deadly Venoms. The movie was a cult hit and became especially popular with North American audiences.[5] The main cast became known internationally as the Venom Mob, with Chiang often being referred to as the "hybrid venom" due to the fighting style of his character being an amalgamation of his costars'.[6] The Venom Mob would go on to make several films together such as The Magnificent Ruffians (1979), Shaolin Rescuers (1979), and Ten Tigers of Kwantung (1980) before disbanding in 1981. In addition to acting, Chiang worked as action director and assistant director in several of his films, for which he is credited in a combined total of over 40 films from 1978 to 1984.[7] He was further lauded for enriching his movies with his acrobatic skills and for infusing action with comedic elements.[8] He was also listed by Chang Cheh as one of his favorite actors to work with.[9]

Later life

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Following the disbandment of the Venom Mob, Chiang returned to Taiwan and starred in, directed, and choreographed the action scenes in Ninja in the Deadly Trap (1982) with Venom costars Lu Feng and Philip Kwok. Kwok later returned to the Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong while Chiang remained in Taiwan, reportedly at his wife's behest.[3] He would cofound Hong Kong Chang He Film Company with Lu and the duo would star in and choreograph the company's debut film, Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983).[10] Throughout the later half of the decade, Chiang went on to make a few movies and television series including Ode to Gallantry (1985) and The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1988). During this time, he divorced his wife and developed depression and a heavy alcohol addiction as he struggled to find work. The 1989 film, The Biography of a Fox, was his final film role.

Death

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Chiang's body was discovered by friend and costar Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi on August 21, 1991. The cause of death was a heart attack. Chiang was 40 years old. In a 1995 interview, Philip Kwok stated that Chiang had been dead for three days before Cheng found him, and attributed the cause as "a broken heart" induced by the drastic decline of his film career.[1] However, actor and student of Robert Tai, Toby Russell suggested otherwise stating in 2007 that "Chiang could not care less about movies" and that they "mean nothing to him".[11] Lu Feng described his passing as a "great sadness" and remembered him as a jovial person who "had no temper and held no grudges" and "could get along with anyone he met."[4]

Filmography

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Title Year Role
Fist of Shaolin 1973 Extra
Wild Tiger

a.k.a. Kung Fu Revenger

1973 Extra
The Champion 1973 Extra
The Escaper 1973 Extra
Fury in Storm 1974 Extra
Bruce Takes Dragon Town

a.k.a. Dare You Touch Me?

1974 Extra
The Guy!! The Guy!! 1974 Extra
Crazy Nuts of Kung Fu 1974 Actor
Fury in Storm 1974 Extra
18 Shaolin Disciples 1975 Actor
Shaolin Traitorous

a.k.a The Traitorous

1976 Extra
The Hand of Deatha.k.a. Grandmaster of Death
a.k.a. Strike of Death
1976 Extra
Shaolin Monk 1976 Actor
The Shaolin Avengers
a.k.a. Incredible Kung Fu Brothers
1976 Actor
Shaolin Temple
a.k.a. Death Chambers
1976 Actor
New Shaolin Boxers
a.k.a. Demon Fist of Kung Fu
a.k.a. Grandmaster of Death
1976 Actor
The Condemned 1976 Extra
Chinese Connection 2
a.k.a. Fist of Fury 2
1977 Extra
The Naval Commandos
a.k.a. Navy Descentors
1977 Actor
The Brave Archer
a.k.a. Kung Fu Warlord
1977 Actor
Chinatown Kid 1977 Actor
Magnificent Wanderers
a.k.a. Magnificent Kung Fu Warriors
1977 Actor
The Brave Archer 2
a.k.a. Kung Fu Warlord 2
1978 Actor, assistant director
Invincible Shaolin
a.k.a. Unbeatable Dragon
1978 Actor, assistant director
Crippled Avengers
a.k.a. Avengers Handicapped
1978 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Five Venoms 1978 Actor, assistant director
Life Gamble
a.k.a. Life Combat
1979 Actor, assistant director
Ten Tigers of Kwantung 1979 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Magnificent Ruffians
a.k.a. The Destroyers
1979 Actor, assistant director, action director
Kid with the Golden Arm 1979 Actor, assistant director, action director
Shaolin Rescuers
a.k.a. Avenging Warriors of Shaolin
1979 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Daredevils
a.k.a. Shaolin Daredevils
1979 Actor, assistant director, action director
Heaven and Hell
a.k.a. Shaolin Hell Gate
1980 Actor, action director
Legend of the Fox 1980 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Rebel Intruders
a.k.a. Killer Army
1980 Actor, assistant director, action director
Two Champions of Shaolin 1980 Actor, assistant director, action director
War of the Shaolin Temple
a.k.a. Monks Go Crazy
1980 Actor
The Flag of Iron
a.k.a. Spearmen of Death
1980 Actor, assistant director, action director
Masked Avengers 1981 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Brave Archer 3 (1981)
a.k.a. Blast of the Iron Palm
1981 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Imperial Sword Killing the Devil 1981 Actor, action director
The Thrilling Sword (1981)
a.k.a. Heaven Sword
1981 Actor, action director
Ninja in the Deadly Trap
a.k.a. Hero Defeating Japs
a.k.a. Ruthless Tactics
1981 Actor, assistant director, action director
Sword Stained with Royal Blood 1981 Actor, assistant director, action director
The Brave Archer and His Mate
a.k.a. Mysterious Island
1982 Actor, assistant director, action director
Ode to Gallantry 1982 Actor, assistant director, action director
Ninja Kids 1982 Actor
House of Traps 1982 Actor, assistant director, action director
Raiders 1982 Actor
Sword with the Windbell
a.k.a. Warriors from Shaolin
1983 Actor
Attack of the Joyful Goddess
a.k.a. The Ghost
1983 Actor, assistant director, action director
Five Fighters from Shaolin
a.k.a. Possession of Ghost
1984 Actor
Shanghai 13
a.k.a. All the Professionals
1984 Actor, assistant director, action director
Fight Among the Supers 1984 Actor
The Demons
a.k.a. The Nine Demons
1984 Actor, executive director, actor, action director
Exciting Dragon
a.k.a. Drunken Dragon
1985 Actor
Ninja in USA 1985 Actor
Ode to Gallantry 1985 Actor
Vampire Kid II 1988 Actor
The Legend of the Condor Heroes 1988 Actor
The Biography of a Fox 1989 Actor

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Kuo Chui Interview with Toby Russell". Archived from the original on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  2. ^ Celestial Pictures DVD Biography
  3. ^ a b "Cool Ass Cinema Presents: An Interview With Former Shaw Brothers Star, Actor & Martial Arts Choreographer Philip Kwok". Cool Ass Cinema.
  4. ^ a b "Cool Ass Cinema Presents: An Interview With Former Shaw Brothers Star & Director/ Action Choreographer, Lu Feng". Cool Ass Cinema.
  5. ^ "How Chang Cheh's Venom Mob martial arts films, starting with 1978's The Five Venoms, became cult favourites in the West". South China Morning Post.
  6. ^ "Chiang Sheng, Hybrid Venom". Archived from the original on 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  7. ^ "Chiang Sheng". Hong Kong Movie DataBase.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Beijing Video. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Chang Cheh's Favorites-2". Beijing Video. Archived from the original on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  10. ^ Bramhall, Paul (March 18, 2021). "Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983) Review". City on Fire.
  11. ^ "Toby Russell and Taiwanese Kung-fu Movies". Hong Kong Cinemagic.
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