LI Bao-Chun on Traditional Chinese Operas

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5/3 The Leopard

The Leopard by GAO Hao-Jun

Sister Leopard by YANG Shu-Chin

Monkey King by CHUANG Chiao-Wei

TANG San-Zang by LI Long-Xian

ZHU Ba-Jie by LEE Zhao-Yun

SHA Wu-Jing by LEE Ching-Fong

DENG Hong by TSAI Yueh-Hsun

DENG’s daughter by KONG Yueh-Tzu

Maid by YU Ji-Rou

Weasel by CHANG Yu-Sheng

The Leopard in human shape by HSU Yan-Kai

Jinhu (Leader of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu

Drum(Leader of Percussions): CHEN Chun

Duration: 40 minutes

Filmed on February 28, 2021, Cement Hall, Taipei

Adapted from Journey to the West, The Leopard told the story of Deng Hong, a wealthy villager whose beautiful daughter caught the eye of the Leopard Demon living in the nearby mountains. The demon sent his underlings to the Deng household to propose marriage. Though Deng Hong refused, the demons forced him to accept the betrothal gifts and set a wedding date. While in despair, Deng Hong met Monk Tang and his disciples as they passed through the village. After hearing the story, Monk Tang agreed to help. Ba-Jie disguised himself as the young lady Deng, while the Monkey King transformed into her maid and hid inside the bridal chamber. When the Leopard Demon arrived that night, they sprang into action. After a fierce chase and battle, the Leopard demon was defeated, and the Deng family was released from the crisis.
 

5/10 Cave Hong-Yang ＆ Monkey King Fights the Spider Demon

Cave Hong-Yang
YANG Yan-Zhao by LI Long-Xian

MENG Liang by LEE Ching-Fong

ZHAO De-Fang by TSAI Yueh-Hsun

CHENG Xuan by CHUANG Chiao-Wei

YANG Zong-Bao by LIN Jing-Chen

Dowager Lady SHE by LI Zhao-Yun

Madam CHAI by CHEN Yu-Xuan

Jinhu (Leader of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu

Drum(Leader of Percussions): CHEN Chun

Duration: 50 minutes

Filmed on March 28, 2021, Cement Hall, Taipei

Adapted from the Yang family saga, Cave Hong-Yang was one of the most celebrated traditional old-man role plays in Peking opera. After learning that the remains of his father, Yang Ji-Ye, lay inside Cave Hong-Yang in the Liao territory, the Song general Yang Yan-Zhao sent Meng Liang to recover them. Jiao Zan secretly followed him to the cave entrance, but Meng Liang mistook him for an enemy and killed him with his axe. Realizing his terrible mistake, Meng Liang, overcome with grief, asked an old soldier to escort the remains of Yang Ji-Ye and Jiao Zan home. Then Meng Liang took his own life. Yang Yan-Zhao, already gravely ill, was devastated when he heard the news. In sorrow, he died after bidding farewell to the Eighth Prince, his mother, and his wife.
 

5/10 Monkey King Fights the Spider Demon

Queen Spider by YANG Shu-Chin

Monkey King by LIU Hsiang Chih

Tang San-Zang by LI Long-Xian

Zhu Ba-Jie by LI Zhao-Yun

Sha Wu-Jing by LEE Ching-Fong

Golden Rooster Deity by LIN Chi-Hao

Local Deity by CHUANG Chiao-Wei

Jinhu (Leader of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu

Drum(Leader of Percussions): WU Cheng-Han

Filmed on March 28, 2021, Cement Hall, Taipei

Adapted from Journey to the West, this story followed Monk Tang and his three disciples on their journey to the West in search of the sacred scriptures. Passing through the Daughter’s Kingdom, they were targeted by the Spider Demon of the Pan-si Cave. Disguising herself as a village maiden, an old woman, and an old man respectively, the demon attempted to deceive Monk Tang and gain Tang’s trust in order to attain immortality via devouring the monk’s flesh. Each time, however, her schemes were uncovered by Monkey King. In the end, the Spider Demon was captured, allowing Monk Tang and his disciples to continue their journey to the West.

5/17 A Gift from Princess Bai-Hua ＆ Gao Chong (Spearing the Rolling Iron Carts)

A Gift from Princess Bai-Hua

Princess Bai-Hua by CHEN Yu-Xuan

HAI Jun by LIN Jing-Chen

JIANG Hua-You by YU Chi-Jou

Ba-La by LI Zhao-Yun

Special Thanks to Mr. WEN Yu-Hang for Acting Instruction

Kunqu Flute: LI Yu-Jing

Drum: WU Cheng-Han

Duration: 40 minutes

Filmed on April 25, 2021, Cement Hall, Taipei

Hai Jun was sent by the imperial court as a spy to infiltrate the palace of the Prince of Anxi, who was plotting rebellion. The Prince, unaware of Hai Jun’s identity, placed great trust in him. Suspicious of the newcomer’s background, Ba-La, a royal guard, devised a scheme to expose him. He got Hai Jun drunk and had someone lead Hai Jun to Princess Bai-Hua’s tent. Princess Bai-Hua, who commanded the military of Anxi, was a formidable woman of courage and wit, and Ba-La hoped she would kill Hai Jun. Unexpectedly, the princess’s maid Jiang Hua-You turned out to be Hai Jun’s long-lost sister, and she helped conceal Hai Jun’s identity. Princess Bai-Hua, meanwhile, was charmed by Hai Jun’s youth and good looks. She gave him her treasured sword and pledged herself to him.

Gao Chong (Spearing the Rolling Iron Carts)

GAO Chong by HSU Yan-Kai

WU Zhu by LEE Ching-Fong

YUE Fei by LI Long-Xian

Hei-Feng-Li by KAO Hao-Chun

Flute, Suona: LI Yu-Jing

Drum: CHEN Chun

Duration: 65 minutes

Filmed on April 25, 2021, Cement Hall, Taipei

Set during the early Southern Song dynasty, this story followed the Jin prince Wu-Zhu as he led an invasion into the Song territory. Yue Fei, Marshal of the Song troops, held his forces at Ox Head Mountain and sent General Niu Gao to the Jin camp to deliver a challenge for a decisive battle there.

General Gao Chong had only recently arrived in the Song camp and was anxious to join the battle, but Yue Fei did not assign him a combat role. Eager to prove himself, Gao Chong repeatedly asked to join the fight, but was ordered instead to guard the flag of the Song camp.

A battle started, and the Song forces were unable to hold their ground and began to retreat. Watching from the hillside, Gao Chong was overcome with anxiety. Ignoring military orders, he charged alone into the enemy ranks with nothing but his spear. Jin Wu-Zhu was unable to stop him, and Gao Chong pressed the attack in pursuit. In desperation, Jin Wu-Zhu released a series of heavy iron carts down the hillside to block Gao Chong’s advance.  With his spear, Gao Chong overturned several of them, but when his horse finally gave out, he got crushed underneath the iron carts and lost his life.

5/31 Wu-Jia Slope, Mount Yin-Kong, the Grand Enthronement,

three episodes from《Xue Ping-Gui and Wang Bao-Chuan》
 

Cast (in order of appearance)

 XUE Ping-Gui by LI, Long-Xian

WANG Bao-Chuan by KUNG, Yueh-Tzu

 Princess Dai-Zhan by CHEN, Yu-Xuan

MA Da by CHUANG, Chiao-Wei

JIANG Hai by CHANG, Yu-Sheng

GAO Si-Ji by LIN, Jing-Chen

SU Long by HSU, Yan-Kai

WANG Yun by TSAI, Yueh-Hsun

WEI Hu by LEE, Ching-Fong

Madam WANG by LEE, Zhao-Yun

Jinhu (Head of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu

Drum (Head of Percussions): CHEN Chun

Duration: 140 minutes

Filmed on April 24, 2022, Cement Hall, Taipei

After Wang Bao-Chuan waited for her husband Xue Ping-Gui faithfully in a destitute kiln for eighteen years, Xue, who had by that time married Princess Dai-Zhan in Western Liang, received her letter written with blood and hurried back to visit her in Chang-an. At Wu-Jia Slope, he met his wife but did not reveal his identity. After a few tests, husband and wife were finally reunited.

Wang Bao-Chuan’s father, Wang Yun, wanted Xue Ping-Gui killed. Xue released the carrier pigeon given to him by Princess Dai-Zhan. Dai-Zhan led troops to his rescue. Together, Xue and Dai-Zhan advanced on Chang-an where they overthrew Wang Yun from the throne he had usurped.

After taking Chang-an, Xue Ping-Gui ascended the throne, granting titles and punishing the remaining traitors. He made both Wang Bao-Chuan and Princess Dai-Zhan his queens. Wang Bao-Chuan pleaded for her father, and he was pardoned. The story ended in a joyful reunion.