Palace of Eternal Life

Author: Hong Sheng (Qing) Sun Anbang Bei Lei Annotation
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The Longevity Palace is a renowned classical Chinese opera that depicts the tragic love story of Emperor Li Longji and Yang Guifei. The playwright Hong Sheng spent ten years in its creation, revising it three times, and titled it The Longevity Palace, focusing solely on the love story of the hairpin and box. It stands alongside The Peach Blossom Fan as the twin gems of the early Qing opera scene. The full play consists of fifty scenes, with the Li-Yang love story serving as the central plotline. It intertwines with the complex and acute social conflicts of the Tianbao era (742-756), particularly the An Lushan Rebellion, employing various artistic techniques such as oblique narration, hints, and foreshadowing to portray the emperor and empress's excessive indulgence and materialism, leading to the decline of governance, rebellious warlords, and the self-inflicted tragedy of their love. The play centers on the Li-Yang romance, which intertwines with the plots of An Lushan and Yang Guozhong's conspiracy to rebel and betray the state. It innovates and develops traditional themes. As the preface states, "Using the legend of Yang Tai Zhen to compose new lyrics, it is all about love," not only enriching and expanding the content reflected in the opera but also, as Hong Sheng himself wrote, "When joy reaches its peak, sorrow follows, serving as a warning to future generations—this is the meaning." The play begins from the second scene, emphasizing the love story of the hairpin and box, from the moment of love to the vow, reaching its climax. The An Lushan Rebellion erupts, the shocking events at Ma'wei unfold, and the empress meets her tragic end. The latter twenty-five scenes depict Li Longji's offerings, weeping before the empress's statue, reburial, ten dreams, and his longing, culminating in a reunion in the afterlife. While portraying the "steadfast and devoted" love, the play criticizes Emperor Minghuang's indulgence in pleasure and neglect of governance, his abandonment of state affairs and obsession with romance, plunging the nation and its people into suffering. It expresses profound hatred for the struggles of powerful officials and the exploitation of the common people by the nobility, while showing deep sympathy for the innocent. With its grand scenes, moving plots, beautiful lyrics, and elegant rhythms, the play has remained popular for over three hundred years, performed continuously in folk culture and passed down through generations.