Monk Photographer and Oscar-Winning Brother Reunite in Rare Interview
SingTao · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong photographer-turned-monk Yeung Ching-lam, known as Master Chang Lin, recently appeared alongside his younger brother William Chang Suk-ping in a rare joint interview on the Buddhistdoor YouTube channel. The brothers, who are seven years apart in age, have taken vastly different life paths yet both achieved remarkable success in their respective fields. Yeung, who previously ran a photography studio and was once married to actress Liao Anli, chose the monastic life, while William emerged as a globally influential art director who won an Oscar for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The interview revealed intimate family details, childhood struggles, and the philosophical differences that shaped their divergent careers.
Key Points
- William Chang, 58, won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2001, becoming the first Hong Kong-born art director to achieve this honor .
- The brothers recalled their poverty-stricken childhood, where five siblings shared a bed made from wooden planks sealed with tape, with Yeung entertaining them by drawing pictures and telling stories .
- Their father used harsh physical punishment including rattan canes and belts, though William later expressed that some physical pain during upbringing "teaches you to be strong" .
- When their mother secretly begged Yeung to hire his brother at his studio, Yeung refused, believing his brother needed to forge his own path outside his older sibling's shadow .
- William Chang participated in the Athens Olympic Games closing ceremony's Chinese cultural performance segment and received an honorary fellowship from his alma mater Hong Kong Polytechnic University .
Why It Matters
This rare sibling reunion offers a unique window into how Hong Kong's creative industry produced internationally acclaimed talent through humble beginnings and unconventional paths. The brothers' different approaches to life—one embracing monastic simplicity, the other pursuing artistic grandeur—demonstrate the diverse pathways to achievement that Hong Kong has historically nurtured . Their story also highlights the generational shift in parenting attitudes, from the corporal punishment methods of their father's era to modern understanding of child development, making it resonate with parents and educators across the city .
This rare sibling reunion offers a unique window into how Hong Kong's creative industry produced internationally acclaimed talent through humble beginnings and unconventional paths. The brothers' different approaches to life—one embracing monastic simplicity, the other pursuing artistic grandeur—demonstrate the diverse pathways to achievement that Hong Kong has historically nurtured . Their story also highlights the generational shift in parenting attitudes, from the corporal punishment methods of their father's era to modern understanding of child development, making it resonate with parents and educators across the city .