Dance Drama ‘Zhaojun Going Out of the Frontier’ by China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater
Performance Details:
– Date & Time: October 26, 2024, from 19:00 to 20:30 / October 27, 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30
– Venue: Grand Theater of Nine Trees Future Art Center
Synopsis:
The dance drama ‘Zhaojun Going Out of the Frontier’ is set during the period of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty. It narrates the story of Zhaojun, who, in an effort to maintain peace at the border, ‘volunteered to go to the frontier’ and spent her life there. Her mission was to make peace through marriage and promote ethnic harmony. The performance captures Zhaojun’s various mental journeys as she faces helplessness and pain, making choices in the evolution from war to peace. It reflects the righteousness and courage of women when confronting the political act of ‘making peace through marriage’, and showcases the great love and patriotism of the Chinese nation.
Please note: The promotional materials for the play do not correspond to the on-site performers.
Play Structure:
– Prologue: At a certain place at the border where beacon fires are lit; beacon towers stand tall; corpses are strewn everywhere and the wailing of the people fills the air. From afar in the palace, Zhaojun seems to hear the lament at the border. Holding a pipa, she realizes her mission…
– Act One: Peace-making. In the waiting area of the Han palace harem, every moment is filled with trivialities, blandness, emptiness, and coldness. The imperial decree arrives. The emperor orders a marriage alliance with the Xiongnu Chanyu.Wang Qiang, also known as Zhaojun, volunteers to accept the decree, while Xiangxi is willing to accompany her to share her worries. In the main hall of Weiyang Palace, Emperor Yuan of Han holds a banquet to welcome Huhanye Chanyu and his son. During the feast, Han general Wei Jiang and Fuzhulei start arguing due to their respective positions. To ease the tension, Huhanye Chanyu proposes a marriage alliance. As Zhaojun makes her appearance, all the beauties in the palace are overshadowed. Emperor Yuan of Han regrets his decision, while Huhanye is overjoyed, and Fuzhulei is puzzled.
Act Two: Departure for the Frontier. Outside Chang’an City, by the Baqiao willows, the marriage alliance procession heads north. After a long journey filled with hardships and fatigue, Huhanye takes good care of Zhaojun, who gradually develops love for him. However, Fuzhulei remains indifferent. Despite the long and tiring night, Zhaojun faces the wetland with hope. Xiangxi dresses her up skillfully, and as she enters the tent to rest, Zhaojun dreams of the beauty and war at her hometown. She vows to build peace at the border in her lifetime.
Act Three: Wedding Celebration. The sound of Hu Jia is heard as the wedding is held as scheduled. Dressed in splendid attire, people dance, and eagles fight. The ‘Haiqing’ dances gracefully, and all the guests drink heartily. The presenters and maids echo each other, creating a harmonious atmosphere. However, Wei Jiang, tightly bound by Fuzhulei, breaks this harmony.Act Four: Bringing Peace to the Border.
Huhanye angrily rebukes Fuzhulei. Zhaojun asks Xiangxi to untie him. Wei Jiang thanks her and then glares at Fuzhulei. For this reason, Huhanye once again orders that no border violations are allowed. Zhaojun hopes that the marriage alliance can bring a beautiful life.
The plague spreads and people are in panic. Fuzhulei is ordered to rescue and comfort. He orders witches to perform rituals to drive away the disease, but the effect is not good. Zhaojun, regardless of her own safety, personally gives medicine to the patients. The effect is very remarkable. Fuzhulei’s admiration for Zhaojun arises spontaneously.
From joy to sorrow, the news of the death of the Xiongnu Chieftain Huhanye shocked the world. Overwhelmed by grief, Zhaojun seeks the figure of Huhanye in a dreamland, where they envision a beautiful future together. Back in reality, Zhaojun adopts the customs of the Xiongnu for the peace between the Huns and the Han, working together to build prosperity on the grasslands and to establish peace along the frontier.
In the finale, Zhaojun, who dedicated her entire life to this mission, guarded the tranquility of the border with her life, exchanged her lifelong efforts for the harmony between the Xiongnu and the Han, and won the love and respect of the people of both nations with her life.
Open from October 26th to October 27th, approximately 90 minutes (subject to the actual performance).
