LI Bao-Chun on Traditional Chinese Operas

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4/2 Wu Yuan, the Fugitive

Emperor Chu Ping Wang wanted to wed his own son’s bride, but Wu She advised against it. Wu She ended up being imprisoned and was forced to write a letter to summon his sons, Wu Shang and Wu Yuan from City Ping where they were stationed. Wu Yuan suspected the letter was a trap and ran away. Wu Shang went as summoned and was beheaded together with his father. Wu Yuan fled City Fan, but when he reached Zhao Pass, Wu Yuan found his portraits posted everywhere for a reward. He went into hiding in Dong Gao-Gong’s home. His hair turned white during the seven days in hiding before Dong Gao-Gong was able to sneak him out of the Pass.

Once outside Zhao Pass, Wu Yuan found himself by the bank of a big river. He was helped by a fisherman and his daughter, a laundry lady. The fisherman and his daughter killed themselves to help him escape.

Wu Yuan finally arrived in Wu State where he met the virtuous Zhuan Zhu. Together they assisted King Ji Guang to regain his throne by murdering Ji Guang’s enemy-usurper, Ji Liao.

4/9 The Magical Lotus Lantern

 LIU Yan-Chang by LI Bao-Chun

YANG Jian (God Er-Lang) by LI Bao-Chun

Her Holiness by CAO Xin-Yue

WANG Gui-Ying by CAO Xin-Yue

Ling-Zhi holy consort by KUNG Yueh-Tzu

Master Pi-Li by YANG Yan-Yi

Madam WANG by LI Zhao-Yun

Chen-Xiang by YU Chi-Jou

Chen-Xiang by HSU Guo-Chih

Qiu-Er by LIN Ssu-Ting

QIN Guan-Bao by CHUANG Chiao-Wei

Deity Hound by WANG Yung-Tseng

YANG Jian (God Er-Lang) by SU Jian-Yu

Jinhu(Head of Strings): FEI Yu-An

Drum(Head of Percussions): WU Cheng-Han, LIANG Chiong-Wen

Conductor: CHUNG Yao-Kuang

Duration: 160 minutes

Filmed on June 18, 2017, The Metropolitan Hall, Taipei

Liu Yan-Chang and a beautiful goddess fell in love in the shabby temple where she was worshipped. The goddess’s brother learned about this and came to tear the couple apart. Liu was rescued by a poor family, and the daughter Gui-Ying looked a lot like the goddess. The goddess gave birth to a boy, Chen-Xiang, whom she asked her companion to deliver to Liu, and protected the father-and -son with her Sacred Lotus Lantern. While the Lotus Lantern was away protecting the Liu’s, the goddess was seized and put into a dungeon by her brother.

Liu married Gui-Ying. Together they raised Chen Xiang and gave the boy a little brother, Qiu-Er.

One day the two boys got into a fight in school and killed a fellow student by accident. The two boys hurried home to report to their parents, each saying the death was his own doing. Liu and Gui-Ying could not decide which boy to send to the court while a lawsuit was apparently on the way. Gui-Ying sings the famous aria “A Child Must Die”. By and by the officers came and took Qiu-Er away. Chen-Xiang was set to flee by his father and step mother, and he vowed to rescue his mom from the dungeon.

Fifteen years later, Chen-Xiang has grown into a brave young man of fantastic Kung-fu taught by a compassionate deity, Pi Li. With the help of tigers in the mountains, summoned by Pi Li, Chen-Xiang succeeded in rescuing his mom.

4/16 Huo Xiao-Yu

The talented Li Yi arrived in the capital city to participate in the State Examination. He asked matchmaker Mrs. Bao to help him find a wife. Mrs. Bao introduced him to Huo Xiao Yu who worked in a brothel but adored Li’s literature works. Yet upon learning his mother had arranged for him to marry a minister’s daughter, Li quickly left Xiao Yu. Not long later Mrs. Bao saw Li with his newly wedded wife in a garden party and informed Xiao Yu who had got ill after Li’s abandonment. Mrs. Bao, Li Yi’s wife and a kung fu master together tried to persuade Li to rekindle with Xiao Yu, but to no avail. Xiao Yu finally died with a broken heart.

4/23 Han Yu-Niang

It was war time in the last few years of Song Dynasty. Han Yu-Niang and Cheng Peng-Ju were captured by the invaders. They met in hardship and became man-and-wife. Yu-Niang encouraged Peng-Ju to flee home, but she herself was sold to a family to serve the host. The family was kind and agreed to let her go into a nunnery. Hu Wei-Yi, a good for nothing rich boy, tried to rape Yu-Niang in the nunnery. Yu-Niang was able to escape and return to the Song region where she found shelter from Mrs. Li who took her in as a daughter. When Peng-Ju returned from a battle and was named mayor of Xiang Yang, he came to look for Yu-Niang. Soon after their reunion, Yu-Niang passed away in result of a difficult life.

4/30  Shi Wen-Gong's Vengeance from The Water Margin, Sitting in the Palace from Si-Lang's Secret Visit to His Mother, Lady Green Snake Breaking into the Treasury

Shi Wen-Gong's Vengeance

from The Water Margin

SHI Wen-Gong by HSU Yan-Kai

LU Jun-Yi by KAO Hao-Chun

Suona by LEE Yu-Ching, DONG Tzu-Yen

Drum (Head of Percussions) by CHEN Jun

Duration: 60 minutes

An excerpt from the classic novel The Water Margins.  The relationship between the Liang Shan Clan and the Zeng Tou City local force took a downturn. After Squad leader Shi Wen-Gong put an arrow through Chao Gai, the Liang Shan Clan named Song Jiang their leader and vowed to revenge. Once they persuaded Lu Jun-Yi to join their force, they launched an attack on Zeng Tou City and captured Shi Wen-Gong.

Sitting in the Palace

from Si-Lang's Secret Visit to His Mother

YANG Yan-Hui by LI Long-Xian

Princess Tie-Jing by KUNG Yueh-Tzu

Jinhu (Head of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu

Drum (Head of Percussions): WU Cheng-Han

Duration: 50 minutes

In the Song Dynasty, Yang Yan-Hui was captured in a battle. He changed his name to Mu Yi and married Princess Tie Jing. Fifteen years later another battle was about to start. Yang learned his mother had come to the border in charge of the supplies. He wished to see his mother but didn’t have the pass to cross the border. As he was worrying and contemplating, the Princess became curious, and the couple started a guessing game in which the Princess learned about her husband’s real identity and concerns. Though very shocked, the Princess decided to help her husband cross the border to visit his mother.

Lady Green Snake Breaking into the Treasury

Xiao-Qing by YU Chi-Jou

Flute: LEE Yu-Ching

Drum (Head of Percussions): CHEN Chun

Duration: 40 minutes

Filmed on February 25, 2023, Family Theater, Taipei

The Lady Thief is an excerpt from “Legend of the White Snake”. The Mayor of Qiantang City was very corrupted, and he stored his wealth in the heavily guarded treasury bank. The Green Snake teamed up with five spirits to steal from the bank in the night. The money would be used to help the White Snake and Xu Xian found a clinic to help the townspeople in need. The money bank’s immortal guardians went after the Green Snake, but the Green Snake and the spirits defeated the immortal guardians and return in victory.