7/30 Koo Cloud Live

 

An Escape from the Temple

《An Escape from the Temple》 is a beloved Kunqu episode. A young nun, Se Kong, was forced into the nunnery by her parents. One day she escaped from the temple. On her way, she ran into a young monk, Ben-Wu, who had just escaped from his temple. They helped each other seek the routes to freedom and decided to live happily together afterwards.

Wang Zhao-Jun Marrying Off

In the Han Dynasty, Wang Zhao-Jun became a concubine, but refused to pay off the malicious royal painter, Mao Yan-Shou. Her portrait painted by Mao was hideous, and thus, she was never favored by the emperor. One day, the emperor saw her playing pipa in her palace and was struck by her beauty and talent. The emperor at once made Wang Zhao-Jun a royal princess. Mao had to flee. He presented Wang Zhao-Jun’s portrait to the Chief of Hans and recommended a political marriage. The emperor of Han feared the Hans, Wang Zhao-Jun was therefore married off. This episode depicts how Wang Zhao-Jun, with her longing for the emperor and home, left behind the life she was used to. 

Capturing Gao Deng

Capturing Gao Deng is based on a chapter in the renowned novel “Water Margin”. Gao Deng, a bully, had forcefully taken a girl named Xu Pei-Zhu and hid her in Yan-Yang Tower. The girl’s brother Xu Shi-Ying hurried to save her with the help of Hua Feng-Chun, Qin Ren, and Hu Yan-Bao of the Water Margin. They got into Gao’s mansion, burned down Yan-Yang Tower and saved Xu Pei-Zhu. The actor who plays Gao Deng needs to be very good at Chinese Kung-Fu and skilled with different ancient weapons.

 

8/27 Koo Cloud LIVE

 

Night Scouting at Mountain Fu

The renowned fighting hero He Tian-Bao went night scouting at Mountain Fu after he accidentally witnessed a robbery nearby. He was discovered by the bandits, and a fight was started. He Tian-Bao, with his twin Dao swords in hand, fought fearlessly; yet he was injured and resolved to escape.

 

The Marshal’s Seal

To combat disturbing regional rebellions, the Emperor of Song ordered a competition of martial arts to select a marshal for the expeditionary force. Mu Gui-Ying's son, Yang Wen-Guang, defeated Wang Lun in the competition and won the Marshal's Seal. However, since the Yang’s were repeatedly framed by corrupted officials, Mu Gui-Ying was no longer willing to serve the state. Lady She, Mu Gui-Ying’s mother-in-law and head of the Yang family, convinced her to take up the Seal and lead the expedition.

 

Stealing the Celestial Herbs

This is an episode from "The Legend of the White Snake." During the Double Fifth Festival, Xu Xian persuaded his wife to drink realgar liquor to expel evil influences. He then fainted upon seeing the huge white snake Bai Su-Zhen turned into. To save her husband, Bai Su-Zhen broke into the celestial mountains for celestial herbs. She engaged in a fierce battle with the celestial Crane and Deer Boy. Eventually, she was able to obtain the celestial herbs which healed her husband.

 

9/24 KOOCLOUD LIVE

White Water Beach

Xu Shi-Ying, regarded by people as a Robin Hood, got captured by the local authorities when he was drunk. He was escorted to the capital city, heavily guarded by officer Liu RJ and lieutenant Xia’s troops. Just when they were passing through White Water Beach, they were ambushed by Shi-Ying’s sister, Pei-Zhu, and bandits of Tong Tian Xi together. Mu Yu-Ji, an onlooker, joined the fight and accidentally saved Liu RJ. Xu Shi-Ying and his sister were defeated, but he claimed to have enjoyed the fight with Mu, and they returned to his stockade.

 

Rescuing the Zhao’s Orphan

The tyrannous Duke Jin-Ling oppressed his people. Premier Zhao Dun, after giving the Duke countless advices in vain, was murdered by the backbiting Tu-An Gu, a colleague in court. Along died his whole family, except his daughter-in-law, Princess Zhuang-Ji, who fled back to the palace, where she gave birth to a baby boy. Cheng Ying, a protege of the Zhao’s, rescued the baby out of the palace. Tu-An Gu couldn’t find the baby in the palace, so he ran a decree throughout the state saying if the baby boy was not surrendered in ten days’ time, all babies around the same age would be killed. Cheng Ying and his friend, Gong-Sun Chu-Jiu, came up with a plan. Cheng Ying would sacrifice his baby son. Gong-Sun would sacrifice his own life. The Zhao’s Orphan was thus rescued, and he would grow up to revenge the injustice.