Tsai Ming-liang Biography: Career, Age, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Siblings, Movies, Wife

Tsai Ming-liang is a Malaysian-Taiwanese film director and screenwriter whose slow-cinema masterpieces explore urban alienation, desire, and the passage of time.

He debuted with Rebels of the Neon God (1992) and gained global acclaim with Vive L’Amour (1994), winning the Golden Lion at Venice.

Tsai earned Best Director at Berlin for The River (1997) and the Grand Jury Prize for The Hole (1998).

His meditative works, including What Time Is It There? (2001) and Stray Dogs (2013), feature recurring actor Lee Kang-sheng and minimalist narratives that challenge conventional storytelling, cementing his status as a pioneer of contemplative cinema.

Profile

• Full Name: Tsai Ming-liang
• Stage Name: Tsai Ming-liang
• Born: October 27, 1957
• Age: 68 years old
• Birthplace: Crown Colony of Sarawak, Malaysia
• Nationality: Malaysian-Taiwanese
• Occupation: Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Tsai
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Tsai Ming-liang was born on October 27, 1957, in Kuching, Sarawak, during British colonial rule, to parents referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Tsai. He might have had siblings but details about them are unknown.

Tsai studied film and drama at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei, graduating in 1982 after moving to Taiwan at age 20. He worked in television as a scriptwriter and stage director before transitioning to cinema.

Tsai is of Malaysian-Taiwanese identity, though he keeps his religious beliefs private.

Career

Tsai Ming-liang began directing television plays in the 1980s, including The Happy Weaver (1984). He debuted with Rebels of the Neon God in 1992, shot in Taipei with non-actors and long takes.

Tsai won the Golden Lion for Vive L’Amour in 1994 and the FIPRESCI Prize for The River in 1997 at Berlin. He released The Hole in 1998, a musical apocalypse that earned the Cannes Grand Jury Prize.

Tsai established Homegreen Films in 1995 for creative autonomy. His early works defined his signature style of silence, water imagery, and urban decay.

Tsai directed What Time Is It There? in 2001, featuring Paris and Taipei in parallel, followed by Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003), a tribute to cinema. He won the Silver Bear for The Wayward Cloud (2005) and the Venice Grand Jury Prize for I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (2006).

Tsai shifted to gallery installations with It’s a Dream (2007) and directed the VR film The Deserted (2017). He released Stray Dogs in 2013, winning Venice Grand Jury Prize.

Tsai’s 11 features have premiered at A-list festivals and won over 40 international awards.

Tsai Ming-liang continues creating films and video art, blending cinema with museum spaces. He mentors through masterclasses at Taipei National University of the Arts.

Tsai’s works screen in retrospectives at MoMA and Centre Pompidou. He supports experimental cinema in Taiwan through funding.

Tsai’s legacy lies in redefining duration and presence in modern filmmaking.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Tsai Ming-liang
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Tsai Ming-liang keeps his personal life private and has not confirmed a spouse or children. He resides in a modest apartment in Taipei’s Datong District.

Tsai enjoys walking through night markets, photographing abandoned buildings, and practicing qigong.

Filmography

• Rebels of the Neon God (1992)
• Vive L’Amour (1994)
• The River (1997)
• The Hole (1998)
• What Time Is It There? (2001)
• Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003)
• The Wayward Cloud (2005)
• Stray Dogs (2013)

Net Worth

Tsai Ming-liang has an estimated net worth of $5 million. His income derives primarily from directing fees, festival prizes, and international co-productions.

Gallery installations and retrospective screenings provide steady revenue. State cultural grants and teaching honoraria also contributed to his earnings.