Before he passed away, Zang David had been unwell for four years and performed on various stages until he fell critically ill last year. On May 8, 2011, in front of the Fish Mouth Open Street, Zang's cries echoed loudly through the streets. Who would have thought that this yell would become his swan song? The old man with missing front teeth, always smiling cheerfully, was in fact a patient with advanced cancer. After falling ill, Master Zang carried a urine bag but never let anyone know how sick he was. He even concealed his illness from his two sons and wife.
Tang Yongqing said that Master Zang endured immense pain, especially when using the toilet. He dared not drink water and struggled to participate in activities. Afraid of delaying performances due to frequent bathroom breaks, he drank sparingly during events. During folk weddings or sales promotions, Master Zang shouted tirelessly, only sipping water from an insulated cup handed by his wife before continuing his calls.
After falling ill, Zang David told his disciples that within a year, he would return to the stage to pass on the traditions of Old Beijing, ensuring they were not lost. Even as his health deteriorated, he encouraged apprentices to bring him to performances so that others could see their cultural heritage. Students recalled that friends and acquaintances of Zang David did not know about his serious condition. Folklore expert Gao Wei, who often invited Zang David to collaborate on activities, believed Zang Hong’s health was good until last fall.
Yesterday, news of Zang David's death spread on microblogging platforms. People familiar with and fond of him paid tribute online. Xu Deliang wrote on his microblog that Zang Hong was his first comic teacher, and 20 years ago, Zang inspired him to discuss comics. In folk culture, he played a significant role... Zang David may have passed away, but his cries filled with the flavor of Beijing still seem to linger in our ears.
Zang's father had some hearing difficulties but always appeared cheerful, revealing his toothy grin whenever he opened his mouth. Immediately afterward, he would shake items in his hands and start shouting - Zang's laughter infected many people. His mind was always on folk art; wherever there was a folk activity, one could almost see the master's shadow. Folklore expert Gao Wei believes that in spreading traditional folk culture, Zang David played a very large role. Lectures and books cannot compare to the vividness of his performances.
At home, his ancestors worked as carpenters. Born in 1952, Zang David worked as a scaffolder at the Beijing Railway Bureau and later joined the railway troupe, where he learned comedy from predecessors like Ming Ha. Since the 1980s, Zang David became known as the "selling king." Besides performing comedy, he also arranged weddings and funerals and participated actively in temple fairs in Beijing.
Even when pushed to go perform, he wanted to call Liang Sangzi. He wished to pass on the cries that represented the traditions of Old Beijing, ensuring they were not lost.