All about 'The Peony Pavilion': China's 'Romeo and Juliet'
July 17, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE new adaptation of "The Peony Pavilion" - known as China's "Romeo and Juliet" - was performed in early June at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. It was directed by famed Taiwanese theater director Li Shao-ping, who is known for his avant-garde productions.
He said his aim was to strip away the non-essentials and tell a story of overpowering love in two and a half hours. The original was first performed in 1598 and contained 55 scenes and numerous subplots.
It was often performed over three to five days during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was controversial at the time for its portrayal of women and celebration of passionate, romantic love in an age when rigid observation of ritual was all-important.
"The Peony Pavilion" play was the masterpiece by Tang Xianzu, the greatest poet and playwright of the Ming Dynasty. In refined and languidly poetic style, the play reveals romantic yearnings and afflictions endured by young people in feudal society. Its central theme proclaims the ultimate triumph of love over reason.
This daring and avant-garde subject, which was a cry against repressive tradition, together with the moving poetics of the language, makes the poet's endorsement of freedom of love between the two young protagonists a lasting force in the history of Chinese literature and theater.
Plot
In the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, a beautiful young lady named Du Liniang, daughter of the Governor of Nanan, was strictly educated and could not step out of her chambers without her parents' permission. One day, without her parents' knowledge, Du went into the garden with her maid. Watching the splendor of spring at its peak, she was overcome with deep feelings in the garden's Peony Pavilion. In a drowsy trance, she dreamed that she had a secret rendezvous with a young scholar under a plum tree near the pavilion.
Since returning from the garden, she was haunted by memories of her dream lover and, after seeking the dream in vain, fell ill and soon died of a broken heart. After her death, Du's spirit kept searching for the young scholar. Her persistence won over the Judge of the Netherworld and she was allowed to be reincarnated.
Three years later, a young scholar named Liu Mengmei stayed at the temple where Du was buried. He wandered in the garden and came across Du's self-portrait. The young lady in the portrait looked familiar and he could not help calling out to her.
In response to call, the young lady came out of the picture. He fell in love with her even though he learned that she was a ghost. On the following day, Liu dug up Du's grave and opened the coffin. Du came back to life and married Liu. The couple lived happily ever after.
He said his aim was to strip away the non-essentials and tell a story of overpowering love in two and a half hours. The original was first performed in 1598 and contained 55 scenes and numerous subplots.
It was often performed over three to five days during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was controversial at the time for its portrayal of women and celebration of passionate, romantic love in an age when rigid observation of ritual was all-important.
"The Peony Pavilion" play was the masterpiece by Tang Xianzu, the greatest poet and playwright of the Ming Dynasty. In refined and languidly poetic style, the play reveals romantic yearnings and afflictions endured by young people in feudal society. Its central theme proclaims the ultimate triumph of love over reason.
This daring and avant-garde subject, which was a cry against repressive tradition, together with the moving poetics of the language, makes the poet's endorsement of freedom of love between the two young protagonists a lasting force in the history of Chinese literature and theater.
Plot
In the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, a beautiful young lady named Du Liniang, daughter of the Governor of Nanan, was strictly educated and could not step out of her chambers without her parents' permission. One day, without her parents' knowledge, Du went into the garden with her maid. Watching the splendor of spring at its peak, she was overcome with deep feelings in the garden's Peony Pavilion. In a drowsy trance, she dreamed that she had a secret rendezvous with a young scholar under a plum tree near the pavilion.
Since returning from the garden, she was haunted by memories of her dream lover and, after seeking the dream in vain, fell ill and soon died of a broken heart. After her death, Du's spirit kept searching for the young scholar. Her persistence won over the Judge of the Netherworld and she was allowed to be reincarnated.
Three years later, a young scholar named Liu Mengmei stayed at the temple where Du was buried. He wandered in the garden and came across Du's self-portrait. The young lady in the portrait looked familiar and he could not help calling out to her.
In response to call, the young lady came out of the picture. He fell in love with her even though he learned that she was a ghost. On the following day, Liu dug up Du's grave and opened the coffin. Du came back to life and married Liu. The couple lived happily ever after.
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