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Palace of Eternal Youth
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The pledging of Love |
The pledging of Love |
The pledging of Love |
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Wen, Yuhang |
Qian, Yi |
Qian, Yi Wen, Yuhang |
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A Banquet for Two |
The pledging of Love |
The pledging of Love |
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Chen, Anna Wen, Yuhang |
Qian, Yi Wen, Yuhang |
Qian, Yi |
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The pledging of Love |
A Banquet for Two |
A Banquet for Two |
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Qian, Yi Wen, Yuhang |
Chen, Anna Wen, Yuhang |
Chen, Anna Zhang, Dongxin |
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A Banquet for Two |
A Banquet for Two |
A Banquet for Two |
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Chen, Anna Zhang, Dongxin |
Chen, Anna Zhang, Dongxin |
Chen, Anna Zhang, Dongxin |
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Startled by the Rebellion |
Startled by the Rebellion |
Weeping to the Statue |
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Wang, Taiqi |
Wang, Taiqi |
Cai, Zhengren |
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Weeping to the Statue |
Weeping to the Statue |
Weeping to the Statue |
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Cai, Zhengren |
Cai, Zhengren |
Cai, Zhengren |
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Weeping to the Statue |
Weeping to the Statue |
Weeping to the Statue |
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Cai, Zhengren |
Cai, Zhengren |
Cai, Zhengren |
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Palace of Eternal Youth :
A Banquet for Two
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Palace of Eternal Youth
A Kunqu masterpiece by Hong Sheng (1645-1704), "The Palace of
Eternity" tells the legendary romance between Emperor Taizong of
the Tang dynasty (reigned 713-756) and Lady Yang Yuhuan. A great
beauty with many artistic talents, Lady Yang has been the
emperor's most favorable imperial consort for almost twenty
years. The emperor himself is also a gifted artist and a leading
patron of music and performing art. As the royal couple indulge
themselves in arts and a life of sensual leisure, the emperor
neglects his duties as a ruler and entrusts the state affairs to
Yang Guozhong, the corrupt Grand Councilor and a brother of Lady
Yang. Taizong's misrule leads to social and political tumults,
which eventually results in revolts. As the rebel force of An
Lushan charges toward the capital, the emperor and Lady Yang,
escorted by the imperial guards, flee to the southwestern
province, Sichuan. During their flight, the guards become
mutinous and demand Lady Yang's death. After much anguish, the
emperor lets Lady Yang hang herself. The emperor is escorted to
Sichuan after her death. Years later, the emperor returns to the
recaptured capital, after the rebellion has been crushed. Back
in the Palace of Eternity where he and Lady Yang once pledged
lasting love, the emperor, deeply in remorse and ashamed of his
cowardly decision to let her die, spends his remaining days
mourning for his beloved.
"A Banquet for Two"
This scene is selected from the play "The Palace of Eternity."
In this scene, Emperor Ming of the Tang dynasty and his favorite
consort, Lady Yang, stroll hand in hand among the lovely autumn
blossoms in the imperial garden. The Emperor orders the court
ladies to set a banquet for two. Lady Yang sings and dances with
a song based on Li Bai's peom "Tunes of Lucidity and Serenity."
Surrounded by such an enchantment, the Emperor urges Lady Yang
to drink with him until she is drunk. |
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Palace of Eternal Youth : Startled by the Rebellion
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"Startled by the Rebellion" is a scene from "The Palace of
Eternity," a dramatic turning point in the play, marking the
abrupt end of Emperor Taizong and Lady Yang's happy and
languorous life. The scene begins with Emperor Taizong and Lady
Yang strolling hand in hand among the lovely autumn blossoms in
the imperial garden. The emperor then orders to have a banquet
al fresco set for two. Lady Yang sings -- dancing at the same
time -- a song based on a poem composed by the great Li Bai.
Surrounded by such enchantment, the emperor gently urges Lady
Yang to drink with him until she gets quite intoxicated. Moments
after Lady Yang is escorted back to her quarters, her brother
Yang Guozhong rushes in to report to the emperor that An Lushan,
one of the emperor's favored generals, is leading a rebel force
charging toward the capital. The scene ends with the stunned
emperor ordering the court ladies to get Lady Yang ready at once
for a flight to Sichuan. |
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Palace of Eternal Youth : Weeping to the Statue
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Not long after the happy days for Emperor Ming Huang and his
favorite consort, Lady Yang, depicted in "A Banquet for Two," a
major rebellion shook the Tang monarchy and caused Ming Huang
and Lady Yang to flee the capital and head for the south. On
their way, some officers of the royal army put the blame of the
rebellion on Lady Yang and threatened Ming Huang with a coup
de-tat, unless Lady Yang was ordered to take her own life. In
resignation and fear, Xuan Zong let Lady Yang commit suicide.
The journey continued after her death and they reached the
southern city of Chengdu, where they stayed for a few years
until the rebel force was annihilated.
In "Weeping to the Statue," a highlight scene along with "A
Banquet for Two" in the literary masterpiece, " Palace of
Eternity," by Hong Sheng (1645-1704), Ming Huang, now an
abdicated king, misses his tragic Lady Yang increasingly more
with the passing of the years. He orders to have a statue of
Lady Yang made. When the statue is presented to him, he is
overwhelmed by the resemblance of the work to his beloved.
Unable to control himself, he weeps to the statue and confides
into the statue his bitter regrets for not being able to save
Lady Yang and his unending love for her. |
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