Was it fate that brought him here? This is the Xian Xing Hai Statue. It stands as a tribute to a man whose life was as dramatic as the music he created.
The Xian Xing Hai Statue honors Xian Xinghai. He was a composer of incredible patriotic music. He was born right here in Macau in 1905.
Xian’s early life was humble. He came from a Tanka family. These “boat people” lived on the water. His father died before he was born. His mother named him Xinghai meaning “the stars and the sea”. This was because he was born on a boat in the middle of the night. This romantic story might be just a legend.
Growing up poor deeply impacted Xian. His mother often sang folk songs. These songs spoke of hardship and determination. One such song was “Tough it Out”. Xian later composed a Cantonese song inspired by his mother. It was also called “Tough it Out”.
Xian’s talent led him far from Macau. He studied in Singapore, Guangzhou, and later Paris. In Paris, he studied with the famous composer Paul Dukas. Despite his poverty, he worked hard to make ends meet. He returned to China in 1935.
His music became his weapon. Xian used it to protest the Japanese occupation. He wrote many patriotic songs. These songs encouraged people to fight the invaders.
His most famous work is the “Yellow River Cantata”. He wrote it in 1939 with the poet Guang Weiran. It galvanized the Chinese people during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
In 1940, Xian traveled to the Soviet Union. He was to score a documentary. It was called “Yan’an and the Eighth Route Army”. The German invasion stranded him in Almaty. There, he composed symphonies.
Xian died in Moscow in 1945 at just 40 years old. But his legacy lives on. He is remembered as the “People’s Composer.”
Macau has honored Xian in many ways. A street is named after him. The Xian Xinghai Memorial Museum celebrates his life. Commemorative stamps were issued in his honor.
Here at the Xian Xing Hai Statue, remember his journey. Think of his humble beginnings. Think of his rise to musical greatness. Let Xian Xinghai’s story inspire you. Let it remind you that even the poorest person can change the world.