Palace of Eternal Life

Author: Hong Sheng (Qing) / Yang Xianyi / Gladys Yang
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Story of the Stone (Dream of the Red Chamber), a historical drama from the early Qing Dynasty, is one of the outstanding works in the history of ancient Chinese opera. Written by Hong Sheng (1645–1704), it was completed in the 27th year of the Kangxi reign (1688). The Story of the Stone tells the love story between Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty (reigned 712–756) and his favorite concubine, Yang Guifei. This is a legendary tale rooted in historical facts, passed down through generations. Hong Sheng inherited the achievements of his predecessors and employed the theatrical art of intertwining the human world and the heavens, reality and fantasy, to depict the divine and moving love story between the emperor and the concubine—"in heaven, we wish to be a pair of birds flying side by side; on earth, we wish to be branches intertwined." The work also reflects the complex struggles within and outside the court at the time, portraying the historical landscape of joy and sorrow, family and state. It has become the highest-achieving and most influential opera in this genre. Upon its release, the play immediately sparked a huge social response, becoming a widely copied and performed work in the theater world. The entire play consists of fifty acts and has been translated into English, Japanese, Russian, and other languages and published worldwide. This edition features the revised version by Mr. Xu Shuoquan and the English translation by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang.