Title: The Auspicious Arrival – A tale of the Ming Dynasty in the Jiajing era, on the West Gate Street of Taizhou Prefecture, where taverns and tea stalls thrive, and people and objects of interest abound. A hospitable old lady, a shrewd steward, and a triumphant scholar-official gather at the Scholar’s Mansion to explore a reason: The Auspicious Arrival.
First Joyful Event: Encounters in a Foreign Land – Fellow townsfolk meet with joy in a foreign place, an event known as the ‘First Joyful Event’.
Oxen’s Cry: Represented by Qin Minglei, newly successful candidates in the imperial examinations are graced by the emperor’s favor, celebrating with high-ranking officials and nobility throughout the night, an event known as the ‘Oxen’s Cry Banquet’. This is the ‘Second Joyful Event’.
Minglei’s Birth: On a night of torrential rain, an infant is born in this residence on West Gate Street. Named ‘Qin Minglei’ because a timely rain accompanied his birth amidst a year of drought, he later becomes the top scholar by imperial appointment, leaving behind this Scholar’s Mansion, known as the ‘Third Joyful Event’.
Nuptial Candles: Twenty years later, as Qin Minglei departs for a post in Nanjing, his brother’s wedding day is a bustling affair. Here, one can witness the marriage customs of the Ming Dynasty and the particularities of southern weddings. Neighbors and guests partake in the joy, marking the ‘Fourth Joyful Event’.
Slaves’ Escape: On the wedding night, two figures break the tranquility, revealing the steward and a servant fleeing upon hearing of pirate invasions. The groom, upon realizing this, scolds the disloyal pair and, after leaving instructions to his bride, dons armor to join the battle. Soldiers of the Qi Family Army engage in fierce combat with the pirates beneath the Jiangnan Great Wall.
Sigh for the Husband: As the Qi Family Army returns victorious, the bride has not waited for her husband’s return. Uncertain of her beloved’s fate, she remains alone, hoping day and night. Whether embroidering, walking, or lighting a lamp, she is consumed by thoughts of her husband, enduring the pain and longing until old age.
Reunion Across Time: Today, a young traveler enters this Scholar’s Mansion, curious about the final chapter of this story. As he surveys the residence, it feels as though he has returned to a past life. He is the groom who marched off to war that night, and as memories flood back, he reunites with his beloved across time, following her into the next life, fulfilling a four-hundred-year-old dream.
Open all year round from 13:00 to 21:00.
Preferential Policies: Children under 1.2m (inclusive) enter for free, with one free child per adult. Children between 1.2m (exclusive) and 1.4m (inclusive) receive discounted tickets. Elderly: Seniors aged 60 and above with valid ID receive discounted tickets. Military, Veterans, and Martyr’s Families: Active military personnel and veterans from Taizhou with valid ID, and martyr’s family preferential certificates receive discounted tickets.
The Auspicious Arrival: A Live Performance in Miniature Space
Title: The Auspicious Arrival – A tale of the Ming Dynasty in the Jiajing era, on the West Gate Street […]
