Chang Yu Sing, The Chinese Giant
Unlike some other of his ‘human curiosities’, P.T. Barnum hardly plucked Chang Yu Sing from a life of obscurity and made him rich and famous. In fact, the Chinaman was already well-established as a celebrity when he signed for the American’s Greatest Show on Earth in 1881. To persuade him to come to the States, Barnum offered the Chinese Giant’ a princely sum of $600 a week – testament to his level of global fame at the time.
Very little is known about Chang’s early life. He was born in Fychow, China, in 1845. By all accounts, his parents were of average height. But Chang was different. As a teen, he grew rapidly. According to most estimates, he was just shy of eight-feet tall. His exceptional height brought him a job entertaining the Chinese emperor. And then, in 1864, he was invited to England to entertain the Prince and Princess of Wales. Chang was a huge hit in Europe. Crowds flocked to see him and he ended up touring England for two years, not just standing still to be gawped at, but reading poetry and singing.
With Barnum, Chang toured the world. Though actually a quiet, considerate man with a strong intellect, the show promoted him as the ultimate strongman. While in Australia, Chang met a lady from Liverpool and fell in love. The pair married, and Chang decided to quit show business for good. The newlyweds returned to England, had children and opened a tea shop. In 1893, his beloved wife died suddenly. Chang followed her just four months later. At his funeral, friends gathered to pay tribute to “a giant of giants…but with the kindest nature and a heart as true and tender as ever beat”.