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The Sea of Desire
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Longing for the Mundane World |
Longing for the Mundane World |
Longing for the Mundane World |
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Yang, Ling |
Huang, Zhenying |
Huang, Zhenying |
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Longing for the Mundane World |
Longing for the Mundane World |
Longing for the Mundane World |
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Huang, Zhenying |
Chen, Anna |
Qian, Yi |
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Longing for the Mundane World |
Longing for the Mundane World |
Longing for the Mundane World |
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Qian, Yi |
Qian, Yi |
Qian, Yi |
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The Sea of Desire : Flee Down the Mountain
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Synopsis of “Fleeing down the Mountain" - Xia Shan
Written over three hundred years ago, "Fleeing down the
Mountain" poses a bold challenge to feudal China's traditional,
moral codes and to its rigorous, conventional Buddhist teaching.
It embodies characteristic of long arias, dexterous dancing and
elaborate acting, which are unique to Kunqu, China’s dominant
dramatic genre since the fifteenth century.
Sent by his parents in childhood to a temple at the advice of
their physician, who claimed that only by so doing could the
child's ill health be restored, Benwu (Detachment!) has grown
into a lusty and virile Buddhist acolyte monk. Lately he has
been brooding with increasing intensity about what he has come
to view as the emotionally and sexually arid life of a Buddhist
monk. Left alone one day in his dark mood, he envisions for
himself a different future life marked by love and fulfillment
through a joyous union with some flirt of a lass, and through
having many a son.
Thus idling away his time in such fancy thoughts, he becomes
more agitated. After a little more excogitation, he decides to
leave the temple permanently and begin a secular life, which he
intends to live fully as a vibrant man. So resolved, he promptly
discards his ecclesiastic robes and slips away down the mountain
to fetch himself a sweetheart.
As his luck would have it, on his flight down the mountain he
encounters our young heroine, Sekong (Free-of-Libido!), who has
had an almost identical fate and state of mind as Benwu. She too
has fled her nunnery, in which she remained, much against her
own will, for a few years -- a few years too many!
His lascivious overtures answered by her coquettishness, it is
love at first sight. Without little ado the amorous pair join
hands and run off ecstatically to start a new life together, a
life which they are all too convinced will be as carnally
gratifying as it will be spiritually rewarding.
(The episode before the two meet is a solo performance by
Se-kong in the nunnery. It has the separate title, “Longing for
the Worldly” - si fan, and is often performed as one opera. The
second episode, in which Se-kong and Ben-wu meet, is titled
“Fleeing Down the Mountain.” It is also frequently performed as
a separate opera. When the two episodes/operas are presented as
one opera, however, it is usually entitled “Longing for the
Worldly & Fleeing Down the Mountain,” or simply “Fleeing Down
the Mountain.”)
Prepared by Ben Wang
2/95
4/99
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The Sea of Desire : Longing for the Mundane World
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Synopsis of "Longing for the Mundane World"
Written over three hundred years ago, "Longing for the Mundane
World" poses a bold challenge to feudal China's traditional
moral codes and to its rigorous, conventional Buddhist teaching.
It embodies characteristic long arias, dexterous dancing and
elaborate acting, which are unique to Kunqu.
Sent by her parents in childhood to a nunnery, Zhao Se-kong has
grown into an attractive and sensual maiden. She hopefully
envisions for herself a different future life marked by greater
fulfillment through a joyous union with some robust youth, and
through giving birth to many children.
Left alone in her dark mood one day, she becomes more agitated.
After a little more excogitation, she decides to leave the
nunnery permanently and begin a secular life, which she intends
to live fully as a vibrant, budding woman. So resolved, she
promptly discards her ecclesiastic robes, packs up her
belongings and slips away down the mountain to fetch a
sweetheart.
Prepared by Ben Wang for the Kunqu Society |
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