LI Bao-Chun on Traditional Chinese Operas
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9/1 Love and Rescue
During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Zeng Rong fled after his father was framed and killed by Yan Song. He was taken in by Yan's ally, Mao-Qing, as an adopted son and subsequently married his granddaughter, Lan-Zhen. Lan-Zhen soon noticed her husband's unusual demeanor and questioned him. Upon learning the truth, she sympathized with her husband.
At Lan-Zhen's mother birthday party, Zeng Rong sneaked into their family tower where important documents were stored, intending to find evidence against Yan Song. He ended up being trapped. Looking for his way out, he accidentally entered the room of one Mr. Zhao Wen-Hua’s daughter, Wan-Zhen.
Waiting in vain for Zeng Rong’s return, Lan-Zhen went back to her parents’ house to look for her husband, resulting in a dispute. Wan-Zhen appeared with Zeng Rong. That resolved the conflict.
9/8 In Long Feng Chamber
When Emperor Mu-Zong of the Ming dynasty passed away, the crown prince was too young to rule, so Concubine Li took over the regency and promoted her own father, Li Liang, to be the premier. Duke Xu Yan-Zhao and Deputy Minister of the Military, Yang Bo, entered the palace to advise Concubine Li against such a move, but Concubine Li, stubborn and misled, dismissed them in anger. Xu Yan-Zhao mourned at the imperial tomb, and Yang Bo led troops to the tomb to protect Xu.
Months later they entered the palace a second time. By then, Concubine Li had been confined by her father in a cold chamber. Regretting her distrust in Xu and Yang, she knelt before them asking for forgiveness and entrusted them with the affairs of the state.
9/15 The Butterfly Lovers
Zhu Ying-Tai, a young lady, journeyed to Hangzhou to go to school disguised as a man. On the way, she met Liang Shan-Bo, a youth from Kuaiji. They felt an immediate kinship, and at Caoqiao Pavilion they swore into brotherhood. The two then attended Wansong Academy together and developed a deep affection for each other. Three years later, Zhu returned home to visit her mother. Liang accompanied her for eighteen miles with much reluctance before parting. Zhu lied, claiming she had a sister whom she would play matchmaker for Liang.
When Liang visited the Zhu's to propose marriage, however, he discovered Zhu Ying-Tai was in reality a woman, and her father had already promised her hand to Ma Wen-Cai, the son of a local magistrate. The two parted sorrowfully. Liang returned home with a broken heart and soon died. When Zhu was forced to marry, she asked for a detoured to mourn at Liang's grave. The tomb suddenly split open, and Zhu threw herself in; the tomb then closed immediately. From the grave, a pair of butterflies emerged and fluttered away. People believed they symbolized the undying spirits of the two young lovers.
9/22 Over the Wall
Pei Shao-Jun, son of Minister Pei, went to Luoyang in search of flower seedlings for the royal garden. As he passed the city wall, he met on the battlement Lady Li, daughter of a prestigious gentleman in Luoyang, in the spring breeze. The two fell passionately in love; the lady ran away with Pei to Chang-an; and Pei hid her in the garden. This lasted for seven years. They had had two children before this arrangement was discovered by the Minister. Minister Pei got so enraged that he ordered his son to banish his wife at once, and the lady had to be separated from her children while her man headed for the capital city to take the Imperial Exam. Fortunately, Pei passed the Imperial Exam, and a brother of Lady Li’s also got promoted to a superb position in the court. The time finally came for the love birds to reunite.
9/29 Luo Cheng at the Fort & Niu Gao Woos
Luo Cheng at the Fort
LUO Cheng by JIANG Qi-Hu
LUO Chun by HSU Po-Ang
Jinhu(Head of Strings): LIU Tie-Shan
Drum(Head of Percussions): LIU Yun-He
Duration: 20 minutes
Filmed on June 5, 2005, Novel Hall for Performing Arts, Taipei
In the early Tang Dynasty, Prince Li Yuan-Ji, brother of Prince Li Shi-Min, aimed to eliminate Li Shi-Min's power. He recommended Li Shi-Min's favorite staff, General Luo Cheng, to be the vanguard in a war against Su Lie, secretly planning to abolish Luo. Luo won a battle only to find Prince Yuan-Ji had ordered all gates to be closed, forcing him to turn back to the battlefield and face the enemy. Luo Cheng bit his finger and wrote a letter with his own blood. He entrusted the letter to his adopted son, Luo Chun, bidding him to deliver it to the emperor. Luo Cheng then faced the enemy once more and died on the battlefield.
Niu Gao Woos
NIU Gao by SHANG Chang-Rog
QI Sai-Yu by HUANG Yu-Lin
JIN Jie by Chang Tso-Kai
YUE Fei by HUANG Nai-Qiang
Mrs. JIN by CHANG Hsueh-Hung
Mo Li Zhi by LIU Hsi-Jung
TANG Huai by WANG Yi-Chiao
YANG Hu by WU Jen-Chieh
YU Hua-Long by LIU Yu-Chang
Jinhu(Head of Strings): LIU Tie-Shan
Drum(Head of Percussions): LIU Yun-He
Duration: 70 minutes
Filmed on June 5, 2005, Novel Hall for Performing Arts, Taipei
Once in the Song Dynasty, the Jin state tried to invade Ou-Tang Pass. Commander Jin Jie sought help from Yue Fei the Grand Marshal of Song. Yue assigned Niu Gao to rescue Jin. Upon arriving at the pass, Niu Gao got heavily drunk; while intoxicated, he entered the battle and killed the enemy Mo Li Zhi. Commander Jin admired Niu Gao’s wits and bravery and offered to act as a matchmaker between Niu and his wife’s sister, Qi Sai-Yu. Niu tried his best to escape, but Marshal Yue arrived in time to host the wedding. In the bridal chamber, Sai-Yu accused Niu Gao of insulting her with his initial refusal to marry her. She challenged Niu Gao to a contest of Kung-fu.
