LI Bao-Chun on Traditional Chinese Operas

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1/5  Lin Xiang-Ru and Lian Po

King Zhao-Xiang of the Qin State deceitfully promised to return fifteen cities to the Zhao State in exchange for the prized Heshibi jade. King Hui-Wen of Zhao, aware of the trick, did not dare refuse. Lin Xiang-Ru, a clever official, volunteered to deliver the jade. Lin used his wit to confront King Zhao Xiang and safely returned to the Zhao State with the jade.

Later, King Hui-Wen was invited by the Qin State to a banquet. He was accompanied by Lin Xiang-Ru for safety’s sake. At the banquet, King Zhao-Xiang tried to humiliate King Hui-Wen, but Lin Xiang-Ru turned the tables and defended his king. In time General Lian Po of the Zhao State, with his troop, arrived to guard King Hui-Wen on his way home.

Lin’s success earned him the position of prime minister, but General Lian Po, proud of his own accomplishments, repeatedly insulted Lin in public. Lin sidestepped to avoid conflicts. Realizing Lin sidestepped merely to maintain the harmony among the officials of Zhao, Lian Po repented. Carrying a thorny stick on his back, he went to seek Lin’s pardon. The two reconciled, becoming close friends and a symbol of the unity of the Zhao State.

1/12  Mi Heng at the Drum

MI Heng by LI Bao-Chun

CAO Cao by LIU Zhuo-Yu

Couriers & Demons by HSU Hsiao-Tsun, CHEN Chin-Ho

Courtiers by LI Yu-Hsuan, KAO Hao-Chun, HUA Chi-Yang, CHUANG Chiao-Wei

ZHANG Liao by CHIANG Chin-Hsien

Mi Heng At the Drum in the Living World (Peking Opera)

Jinhu(Head of Strings): YE Guang

Drum(Head of Percussions): LIU Yun He

Mi Heng at the Drum in the Nether World (Kunqu Opera)

Kunqu Flute: WANG Xiao-Lin, CHUNG Pei-Jung

Drum: CHUNG Hui-Ching

Duration: 70 minutes

In the Era of Three Kingdoms, the renowned scholar Mi Heng was recommended to Cao Cao by Kong Rong. Showing Mi no respect, Cao Cao appointed him Mi a drummer. During a grand banquet hosted by Cao Cao, Mi Heng, in disheveled clothes, deliberately hurled insults at Cao Cao while beating the drum.

To eliminate Mi Heng, Cao Cao sent Mi Heng to persuade Liu Biao to capitulate. As expected, Liu Biao had Mi Heng executed. After his death, Mi Heng's grievance persisted in the underworld. The judge of the afterlife summoned the spirits of Cao Cao and all who were present in the banquet for Mi Heng to reenact his accusations as a record of inquest.

Capturing Gao Deng

GAO Deng by LI Bao-Chun

HUA Feng-Chun by HSU Po-Ang

JIA Si-Wen by CHANG Gui-Xiang

XU Shi-Ying by Lee Yen-Lung

QIN Ren by HSU Hsiao-Cu

HU Yan-Bao by HUA Chi-Yang

Madame XU by Lee Ching-Ni

XU Pei-Zhu by CHANG Hsueh-Hung

Jing-Hu( Head of Strings): YE Guang

Drum(Head of Percussions): HONG Suo-Han

Duration: 60 minutes

This story is based on a chapter from Water Margin. The plot follows Gao Qiu's son, Gao Deng, a bully in Nanyang. In a garden party, Gao Deng saw the beautiful Xu Pei-Zhu and sent his associate, Jia Si-Wen, to propose marriage on his behalf. On being rejected, Gao Deng resorted to abducting the lady by force.

Xu Pei-Zhu's brother, Xu Shi-Ying, while pursuing her captors, encountered heroes Hua Feng-Chun, Qin Ren, and Hu Yan-Bao, who offered their assistance. The four men infiltrated Gao Deng's mansion at night, set the Yan Yang Tower ablaze, and rescued Xu Pei-Zhu. While Gao Deng was drunk, they worked together to fight him, ending his tyranny.

1/19 The Orange Named Buddha’s Hand

In the Song Dynasty, the Empress Dowager fell ill and required a rare orange shaped like Buddha’s Hand for her remedy. General-in-Chief Zhou Bi-Da traveled to the Jin State in search of the fruit but was caught and imprisoned by Jin.

Meanwhile, a thief named Qiu Xiao-Yi stole a silver pot from General Yang’s house. The guards of the General’s suspected it was stolen by a poor civilian named Zhang Ding and asked Zhang to pay for it. Qiu Xiao-Yi returned the pot once he learned about Zhang Ding’s trouble. General Yang was impressed, and he asked Qiu Xiao-Y to steal the silver pot again. Afterwards, the Marshal recognized Xiao-Yi’s talents and enlisted him. Together with Yang Yuan-Yu, the son of Marshal Yang, and Zhou Feng-Ying, the daughter of Zhou Bi-Da, Qiu Xiao-Yi infiltrated the Jin State to get hold of the orange and rescue Zhou Bi-Da from captivity.