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The Palace of Everlasting Life
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi (康熙), plays created by the Suzhou school sprung up one after another and professional troupes developed with each passing day. Many literati participated in the Kunqu legend creation. Kunqu was still in its booming age. It was in this period that there appeared two shining stars and two masterpieces, which pushed the Kunqu legend creation to a new height. The two shining stars are Hong Sheng (洪升) in south and Kong Shangren (孔尚任) in the north.
Kunqu Opera: Lei Feng Pagoda
The story about the “White Snake Lady” (白蛇) had already been very popular in the early 12th century. The legend about White Snake’s struggle for mundane love had already been recorded before the late 16th century and it was collected by Feng Menglong in his work “Stories to Caution the World” (警世通言). In fact, it had already been edited by a writer Chen Liulong by that time, only not fully developed, and there was no record found about it being performed. Within the 100 years after that, “Lei Feng Pagoda” (雷峰塔) had undergone three significant reformations.
Kunqu Opera: Ban Zhao
Ban Zhao (49?-120?) is an ancient Chinese beauty, daughter of historian Ban Biao, historian Ban Gu and Ban Chao's younger sister. They are all the great Han historians. In order to complete the Book "History of Han Dynasty," Ban Gu asks Ban Zhao to marry one of his pupils, Cao Shou.
Kunqu opera masterpiece: The Water Margin
This scene is drawn from one of several plays based on The Water Margin, one of China's most famous classical novels that theatregoers may know from the stories (and secnes!) about Wu Song of Lin Chong. The story takes place in the 12th Century (Song Dynasty), the novel was written in the 14th Century (late Yuan-early Ming Dynasty), and the play in the late 16th Century (Ming).
Kunqu opera masterpiece: The Lioness' Roar
"The Lioness' Roar" is a well-known 30-scene comedy of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It tells the story of a jealous, abusive wife, Liu Shi. Her subdued husband, Chen Jichang, could never take a concubine or even enjoy some happy moments with other women.
Kunqu opera masterpiece: The Tragic Killing of Loyalists
"The Tragic Killing of Loyalists" is the story of the dethroned Emperor Jianwen of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Jianwen's uncle, the King of Yen, usurped the throne and ordered to kill Jianwen and his men. Jianwen disguised himself as a monk and escaped. For a while, he took refuge in the countryside.
Kunqu opera masterpiece: Laundering the Silken Yarn
Liang Chenyu (born 1520) was a famous Ming dynasty (1368-1644) playwright, his masterpiece "Wan Sha Ji" (Laundering the Silken Yarn) was the first Quanqi play put to the music of Kunqu style. It is the famous beauty Xishi during the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).
Kunqu Opera masterpiece: The LanKe Mountain
"The Lanke Mountain" tells a folk story which spawned the Chinese proverb - "Poured water cannot be retrieved." In the Han dynasty (206 BC-221AD), Zhu Maichen, a scholar living in poverty at the foot of the LanKe Mountain, was pressed by his wife Cui Shi for a divorce.
Kunqu Opera: The Village of Hu
"The Village of Hu" is a play about bravery and patriotic passion of Lady Hu, the woman warrior. Its bravura sprite differs markedly from other tender and melancholy Kunqu plays. The two long pheasant tails on Lady Hu?|s headgear are props with which the actress performs much of her acrobatic dance.
Kunqu opera masterpiece: The Rising Dragon
"The Rising Dragon" is written by Li Yu in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). It is based on the story of Zhao Kuangyin (927-976 AD), the founder of the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD).