Ming Dao

Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor


name = Ming Dao (明道)
caption =
birthname = Lin Chao Zhang (林朝章)
ancestry =
origin = Taiwan
birthdate = birth date and age|1980|2|26
birthplace = Taiwan
othername = Matthew
occupation = Actor, Singer, Model
genre = Mandarin Pop
instrument = Singing
voicetype =
label = Jungiery
yearsactive = 1999–present (modeling)
2002–present (acting)
2004–present (singing)
currentmembers =
pastmembers =
associatedact = 183 Club
spouse =
partner =
children =
parents =
influences =
influenced =
website =
hongkongfilmwards =
goldenbauhiniaawards =
hkfcsawards =
goldenhorseawards =
goldenroosterawards =
ntsawards =
awards =

Ming Dao was often approached by management agencies due to his good look before becoming an actorFact|date=August 2008. He was initially a professional model starring for MVs, catwalks, and bridal photo shoot. His first project with SETTV was being a cultural TV program host , King of Adventure. Following this, Ming Dao's starred in his first idol drama titled Heaven's Wedding Gown <<天國的嫁衣>>, with Cindy Wang and Leon Jay Williams. The drama became the most popular Idol drama of the year 2004Fact|date=August 2008. In 2005, Ming Dao acted in the Taiwan 2nd Highest Rated Idol Drama in the history, The Prince Who Turns into a Frog <王子變青蛙>. This drama hits the rating of 8.13 and broke the all time record of Meteor Garden, and Ming Dao instantly become the most popular Taiwan idol drama actor. This is also the drama that catapulted his boy band 183 Club into fame. His charismatic gaze and charming smile captured the hearts of many girls in Taiwan and Mainland ChinaFact|date=August 2008. Soon his fans grew in number all across Asia. In the interview with Sina Web in 2006, the interviewer told Ming Dao that his fan in Mainland China alone amounted to 100, 000 people. His next Drama, Magician of Love <<愛情魔髮師>> also became the most popular Idol Drama in 2006Fact|date=August 2008. This stabilize his status as the Taiwan Idol Drama King. Ming Dao also became the first and only idol drama actor so far in Taiwanese history to ever starred in three consecutive Top Rated Idol Drama of the Year, so he was dubbed as the " Jewels of TV Rating" <<收视之宝>>.

Early life

Ming Dao was raised and born in Taiwan, his family was really poor. At the tender age of 12, Ming Dao helped his family to run a stall in Da Guan Qiao market selling dried fish and various kind of preserved seafood. Ming Dao grew up in a loving and close-knitted family, he often talked about his childhood with excitement and is never ashame of his unprivilledged background. Instead, he felt that it was an important learning process for him as a person and credited his warm personality from his humble background. It was reported that he used to suffer from infantile paralysis and his brother has to carry him around when he was young. In his Middle School, Ming Dao would come to the wet market everyday after school to help out with his family stall, when he bumped into his classmates and friends, Ming Dao never felt inferior. He would happily greet his classmate and coax them to purchase from his stall. This earned him the nick " Market Prince". In fact, Ming Dao never aspires to join the entertainment industry, he initially wanted to open a bike Shop. Unfortunately, his family fell into debt because of wrong investment, this became the driving factor for Ming Dao to host the King of Adventure and marked the start of becoming a celebrity. Ming Dao never look back since.

Career

Modelling

Ming Dao was first discovered in 1999 when he took part in a variety show hosted by Jacky Wu titled Guess Guess Guess, [http://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%E6%88%91%E7%8C%9C%E6%88%91%E7%8C%9C%E6%88%91%E7%8C%9C%E7%8C%9C%E7%8C%9C&variant=zh-hk 我猜我猜我猜猜猜] . The show invited Zhao Wei,Ruby Lin and Fan Bing Bing, who were the main actresses of Princess returning Pearl at that time. They were supposed to guess who is voted as the most Manly and Suave ( 粗獚猛男帥哥 ). 100 female students were supposed to vote for the five contestants and 40 voted for Ming Dao. Ruby Lin was the only one with the correct guess. This showed her foresight for many years later this young boy became one of the most famous Taiwanese Idol of all time. In the interview Ming Dao said that his friend who admired him a lot enrolled him for the contest, and he said that the reason he won is because of his young age which is much closer to the female voters. Such humbleness indeed come in handy when he join the showbiz later on.

After this show, Ming Dao was discovered by an unknown modeling agency. Later on, he modeled for various advertisement. Due to his good look and charismatic smile, Ming Dao became staple in many bridal photo shoot. Afterwards, he also appeared in several MVs:Fei Shiang's SHE, R&B's Love Bubble (【愛的Bubble), and Zhou Bo Xiong's I am beside you (我在身邊) [http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%8E%E9%81%93_%28%E8%97%9D%E4%BA%BA%29] .

In 2000, he participated in Super sunday, [http://www.southcn.com/ent/zhuanti2/tv2003/list/200403220519.htm 超級星期天] in a selection to choose for F4 members. However he was unsuccessful.

Early Work ( 2002 - 2004 )

King of Adventure (冒險王)

Ming Dao was featured in [http://www.settv.com.tw/ SETTV] King of Adventure(冒險王) as a down-to-earth Taiwanese Student from a relatively poor background, whose parents were just a hawker and never set a foot outside Taiwan his entire life. Then, many people were skeptical of his ability to host this program due to the lack of experience and his then poor English language proficiency. This made him work harder than anyone else, in order to prove his ability. Ming Dao rely on his basic instinct and his interaction with his new surrounding to let the viewer discover the different culture and history of various cities that he visited.

The countries that he visited when hosting King of Adventure are India, Korea,Egypt, Germany, Namibia, New Zealand, Laos, Guam, Fiji, Alaska, Mexico, Oman, and Indonesia, Kalimantan.

Eventually after two years, Ming Dao's hard work was recognized when he won the 40^th Taiwan Golden Bell Awards for the best host.

Heaven's wedding Gown

This is Ming Dao first acting experience, and he received a lot of praises considering that he is a beginner. A lot of people were impressed when he cried and emotionally break-down after the death of his beloved uncle who raised him.

Ming Dao acted as a bike racing champion, Chen Hai Nuo, who fell in love with the cute and innocent Tao Ai Ching ( Cindy Wang ) and tried his best to protect and care for her. However, a touching and complex love triangle develops as Ai Ching love Zi Hao Leon Jay Williams. A detailed sypnosis of can be found [http://lunardreamz.fateback.com/synopses/robe.htm here] .

This Drama is rated as the Champion (Top Rated) Idol Drama in 2004.

Rise of the Dark Knight (2005 - Present)

Initially, the producers refused to cast Ming Dao as the lead role in The Prince Who Turns into a Frog as they felt that his skin was too dark and does not conform to the typical Chinese perception of Prince Charming. However, they decided to take a risk. Ming Dao managed to creep into the hearts of many viewers in his dual role as both the confident perfectionist Shan Jun Hao and innocently angelic Dang-Oh. When this drama was broadcasted all over Asia, Ming Dao become an instant celebrity with many ardent fans following him around. Indeed such a romantic fairy-tale comedy of a contemporary cinderella is always an all-time favorite.

His next drama Magician of Love in which he co-starred with his band mates Sam Wang and Jacky Zhu from the 183 Club is not only widely received but also send the whole Asia into a frenzic 183 fever. Their shows, concerts and albums became the top hit in Taiwan. Some talk show host even joked that whenever they visit the program, it would boost the rating instantly. [Guo Guang Bang Bang Mang in 2006]

External links

*
* [http://www.mingenpalace.net Mingen Palace]
* [http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=92853&p=3&topicID=8857903 Ming Dow world@ 183 Club]

References