The Longevity Palace -- Basic Collection of Chinese Family Books. Drama and Fiction Volume

Author: Hong Sheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The Longevity Chamber is a renowned classical Chinese opera that depicts the tragic love story between Emperor Li Longji and Yang Guifei. The playwright Hong Sheng spent ten years on its creation, revising it three times, and titled it The Longevity Chamber, focusing solely on the love story of the hairpin and box. It is considered a twin masterpiece to The Peach Blossom Fan in the realm of love-themed operas. The entire opera consists of fifty scenes, with the Li-Yang love story as the central plot line. It intertwines the complex and social conflicts of the Tianbao era (742-756), particularly the An Lushan Rebellion, employing various artistic techniques such as oblique narration, hints, and foreshadowing. It portrays the emperor and empress's excessive indulgence and materialism, leading to the decline of governance, rebellions by regional warlords, and ultimately, their own tragic downfall. The opera centers on the Li-Yang love story, intertwined with the plots of An Lushan and Yang Guozhong's conspiracy to rebel and betray the state, creating a dynamic and multifaceted narrative that innovates and develops traditional themes. "Using the legend of Yang Tai Zhen to compose new lyrics, it is all about love," it not only enriches and expands the content reflected in the opera but, as stated in the preface, "When joy reaches its peak, sorrow follows, serving as a warning to future generations—this is the essence." The first half of the opera, from the second scene onward, emphasizes the love story of the hairpin and box, culminating in a vow of eternal love and reaching its climax. The An Lushan Rebellion erupts, the shocking events at Ma'wei unfold, and the empress meets her fate. The latter half of the opera depicts Li Longji's offerings, weeping before her statue, reburial, ten dreams, and his longing for her, ending with a reunion in the realm of gods. While portraying the "steadfast and devoted" love, the opera also criticizes the emperor's indulgence in pleasure and neglect of governance, driving the nation and its people into depths of suffering. It expresses profound hatred for the struggles of powerful officials and the exploitation of the innocent by the elite, while showing deep compassion for the common people. With its grand scenes, moving plots, beautiful lyrics, and elegant rhythms, the opera has remained popular for over three hundred years, performed continuously in folk traditions and passed down through generations.