Play in the Republic of China

Author: Zhang Qingjun
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Beyond the setting sun, the homing birds lose their traces, as the sunset fades its light, like a coin flipped, transitioning from the stage to life. There is the hustle and bustle of a world of wine and song, the intoxication of singing and dancing, the exhilaration of gambling, and the tranquility of birdsong and fragrant flowers. Published by Jiangsu Literature and Art Press, the series "Eating in the Republic," "Drinking in the Republic," "Entertainment in the Republic," and "Leisure in the Republic" recreate the vibrant and colorful life of the Republic of China era. At dusk, the dinner at Yuan Shikai's "Presidential Palace" has just begun. On the table are the steamed duck and braised Yellow River carp that Yuan Shikai particularly enjoys. He picks up the ivory chopsticks and first pokes the duck, rolling a large piece of skin onto the chopsticks in three quick movements before skillfully placing it in his mouth. Under the bright lights of the early evening, the Confucius Temple in Nanjing is bustling with people. In the Six Dynasties Tea House, some are drinking tea, others singing, while vendors call out the low prices of dumplings and shredded silk. Even poor students can spend a few copper coins here to join the fun. Outside the Western-style bars in Shanghai, attractive bar girls stand by the door, eagerly inviting passersby. In a heavily guarded mansion in Beijing, under the light, two people sit facing each other, playing Go. One is the Prime Minister of the Republic of China government, Duan Qirui, and the other is the Go genius Wu Qingyuan. Unlike general conceptual introductions and academic research works, this series delves into these life details, where characters, stories, and scenes are vividly presented through a narrative process, much like watching a slide show from the past. Recently, a newspaper in Chengdu reported that a celebrity visited Chengdu for a performance, and fans flocked to see them. A young man was pushed and shoved by the celebrity's bodyguards and slapped three times. Yet, after being beaten, the young man claimed it was worth it because the slaps were for the chance to get close to his idol. The world is indeed vast, and there are all kinds of people. While chasing and admiring stars, those who can offer luxury cars and mansions to celebrities achieve a far different outcome. The pursuit of stars in the Republic of China era, however, followed a different method. In the sixth year of the Republic, Guangxi warlord Lu Rongting entered the capital and asked the former emperor and empress of the court: besides the Manchu-Han feast, what else did they do for entertainment? Those in the know told him to listen to Tan Lao's opera. At that time, the grand master of Peking opera, Tan Xinpei, was already seriously ill and no longer performed on stage. Yet, the warlord demanded to see Tan Lao, threatening to destroy the theater and confiscate the family's property if he didn't perform. Despite being a major figure who had served the emperor and empress, Tan Lao had no choice but to perform on stage, even though he was ill, singing "The Three Stars Return." This performance turned out to be the last of a master (see "Entertainment in the Republic"). The same goes for eating, drinking, and having fun—some taste, some extravagance, some value face, and some seek practicality. From these small matters, one can see the personality and character of the Republic of China's prominent figures in their private lives, as well as the relationship between their personal traits and their success or failure in their careers. This is also what makes this series engaging. The difference between eras may only lie in the sunlight and the stage, but beyond the setting sun and in daily life, everything is quite similar. Just like the same prescription, individual temperaments differ. As for the clamor of sensual pleasures and the intoxication of wealth and luxury, it's still the same setting sun, but the people have changed. Eating, drinking, and having fun have both a big world and a high realm. The Republic of China lasted less than half a century but was in a transformative period, where new and old ideologies converged, progress and backwardness clashed fiercely, and society underwent dramatic changes. People's entertainment lives were deeply marked by the era. Old games continued, while new ones emerged unexpectedly, and various novel ways of entertainment were equally captivating. Entertainment in the Republic of China. The entertainment projects of the 1920s and 1930s have long been depicted in numerous TV dramas. Under the night of old Shanghai, the glow of wine and song, and the intoxication of wealth and luxury, staged the gaiety of Gin Yan, Hu Die, and Ruan Lingyu. Although the stories inside and outside the plays are also about joys and sorrows, they now appear to be coated with a hue called "melancholy" due to the passage of time. "Entertainment in the Republic of China" mostly portrays stories that have settled in time. For example, Lu Rongting chasing stars. "In the sixth year of the Republic, Guangxi warlord Lu Rongting entered the capital and asked: besides the Manchu-Han feast, what else did the former emperor and empress do for entertainment? Those in the know told him to listen to Tan Lao's opera. At that time, the grand master of Peking opera, Tan Xinpei, was already seriously ill and no longer performed on stage. Yet, the warlord demanded to see Tan Lao, threatening to destroy the theater and confiscate the family's property if he didn't perform. Despite being a major figure who had served the emperor and empress, Tan Lao had no choice but to perform on stage, even though he was ill, singing "The Three Stars Return." This performance turned out to be the last of a master" (see "Entertainment in the Republic of China"). In this book, there is more of that "melancholy" hue.