•研究資料• |
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OPERA【 LISANHWEN】MANIFESTO
歌劇 【 酈山魂】宣言 |
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Global superpowers
are not just modern day creations; they existed on all
the continents and began thousands of years ago.
In China, the first of such superpower was the Qin Dynasty.
From the very beginning, its creator, Qin Shihuang, was
a controversial character. He conquered six warlords and
united China. He altered the feudal system and created
a centralized government. He built the Great Wall of China.
He unified the Chinese language. For more than 2000 years,
all what he had envisioned for China have rooted, grown,
and survived till this day.
Yet, his own reign, the Qin Dynasty, existed only for
33 years. It quickly ended in 206 B.C. What is it that
worked for Qin Shihuang and made him the first and the
most powerful emperor in Chinese history? What is it then
that did not work for him and swiftly terminated his own
existence? |
千古一帝秦始皇的是非功過，兩千年來幾未有定論。有人頌之謂偉大，有人詬之謂殘暴。試探之，實際上秦始皇幾乎功過相抵。
功，是他所創下的郡縣體制，他所統一的度量衡、文字等，在中國立足了兩千多年。
而過，是他所建立的王朝，竟在短短三十多年間，匆匆亡覆。 |
In 1974, when his army of terracotta
warriors alongside his burial ground were discovered,
we may have a glimpse of the possible answer.
As the entire world was astonished by this awesome phenomenon,
several modern scholars raised another question. They
noticed the facial expression of these sculptured warriors
revealed certain sense of ‘sorrow’ and ‘worry.’ |
但當 1974 年兵馬俑在酈山被發現，吾人才知秦朝國力竟如此強大，實可稱當時國際之超級強權。
而當吾人為武俑的龐大規模，以及那如真的藝術成就所震撼之同時，有不少研究學者特別留意到，武俑整體的面部表情，竟顯示出一種憂心忡忡的特質。 |
If these soldiers of Qin Dynasty
revealed to us somewhat a ‘disturbed life,’ then what
would that life be in a country that was totally controlled
by iron claw.
Would human nature of peace loving and happiness seeking
be suppressed and distinguished altogether? How would
human’s love of eternal binding to each other survive
this insurmountable destructive power and prevail?
These are the things this opera set out to explore and
express. |
假設這些雕塑竟真的透露了當時軍伍生活的確實訊息，那麼在這樣一個勞役繁重、法禁森嚴、超強軍事大國裏，其他廣大人民的生活究竟又是如何的呢？
人類愛好和平與幸福的意願，是否遭到無情的蔑視和鏟除？人類堅貞不移永恆的愛情，又是如何的在暴力摧殘之下，奮鬥求存，通過考驗？這正是本歌劇企圖探討和表達的！ |
The music structure of this
opera is designed to embrace all kinds of folk songs and
dances, and even different music genres.
The lyrics of this opera utilize all types of Chinese
classic poems; the mandate is to make this archaic form
reborn with fresh breathes and its own heartbeat. |
在音樂的佈局上，本歌劇多所包容，展現了各式的民俗樂風。
在文詞語言上，本歌劇希望使古文復活，融匯詩經、楚辭、樂府等，賦予古詩詞的形式以鮮麗的生命。 |
| Dictators or well-beloved leaders,
superpowers of any kind, they come and they go. It is
the people, the human beings, their search and fight for
the love of peace and happiness, the love for each other,
will be the only thing that matters and the only thing
that will have the ultimate success! |
暴君來去，仁君迭遞，朝代頻替，只有廣大中國人民的奮力自強，才將是最終的生存勝利者！ |
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| CHARACTERS
角色人物 |
Quava
Soporano |
姱娃
女高音
一個老陶工的女兒
|
The daughter of
a drafted potter from southern region.Young, beautiful,
and pure in heart, she became a saviour figure for two
troubled souls: Hantrong and Shihyu. Both pursued her
with passion and determination. |
Hantrong
Tenor |
韓壯
男高音
將作少府 |
The Royal Architect of the mausoleum.As
a Confucius scholar, he criticised against military supremacy
and dictatorship. |
Shihyu
Bariton / Bass |
師幽
男中音 / 男低音
奉常卿 |
The High Priest and Royal Astrologer.He
also interested in alchemy. His search for an immortal
life made him an esoteric, secretive, and intriguing person. |
Juangu
Mezzo Soprano |
絹姑
次女高音
一名女奴 |
A slave girl.She was a princess
of a barbarian tribe in the north, but Qin Shihuang conquered
her homeland and killed her father and her brother. |
Fanleay
Tenor |
樊烈
男高音
姱娃的哥哥 |
Quava’s older brother. A hot-blooded
and rebellious young man. |
General
Chaotu
Bariton |
將軍趙鵌
男中音
趙高義子 |
The General in charge of the
security of the mausoleum.A comic relief character. |
Musician
Kao Jienli
Tenor / Bariton |
高漸離
男高音 / 男中音
善擊筑音樂家 |
A well known musician in Chinese
History. The instrument he played, ‘Tzu,’ is now extinct.
His involvement with a failed assassination against Qin
Shihuang’s life made him a fugitive. |
Qin
Shihuang
Contralto / Tenor |
秦始皇
男雌音 / 男高音
嬴政 |
The Emperor himself.Viewed by
many scholars, judging from his deeds and merits, he was
considered as a dictator. |
| Only Qin Shihuang and
Musician Kao Jienli are real historical person; all the
rest of the characters are fictional.除秦始皇與高漸離為真實歷史人物，本歌劇其他角色全屬虛構 |
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STORY LINE 故事大綱 |
The story line of
this opera is about two pairs of lovers; Quava and Hantrong,
Juangu and Fanleay. Their loves are imbedded in a turmoil
and violent era. Each has to live through their struggles
against evil forces; each has to make their own sacrifices
and bravely challenges what the fate has laid out for
them.
Quava’s heart is pure and her beauty is divine; she casts
cleansing and elevating spell on troubled souls; she is
the redemption of mankind.
Hantrong is in a low spirit. After his homeland fallen
into Qin’s hand, he and his comrades had tried everything
to fight against this new military authority, even managed
an ambush, hoping to put an end to the dictator’s life.
But they failed. Quava is his redemption. She gives him
motivation, courage, and hope for a new life.
Shihyu instinctively believes that Quava is his ‘divine’
salvation. As an alchemist he is vehemently in search
of a path to an immortal life. His teacher had predicted
that he will not achieve this goal, unless he finds a
divine salvation.
Juangu was a princess from a northern tribe, but her homeland
was invaded and destroyed by Qin’s army. Now she is a
slave girl, serving the army and workers at the mausoleum
site.
Fanleay is a young man from the south, but his defiant
nature immediately captures Juangu’s heart. Influenced
by his brave challenge to the authority, she turns her
lament into action and hope.
At the end, Fanleay is arrested and send to the northern
boarder to build the great wall. But he escapes and joins
the rebel army.
Hantrong’s life is sealed from the very beginning. As
the royal architect of the mausoleum, he knows every secret
about the tomb. Qin dynasty has an old custom which buries
people alive as the sacrifice for their deceased king.
So Qin Shihuang definitely will not let him live outside
the tomb.
Shihyu seizes this opportunity to revenge his rival and
makes it certain that Hantrong is sealed inside the tomb
with the emperor.
Witnessing Hantrong being buried alive, a broken-hearted
Quava determines to stay with her love and turns herself
into a golden oriole; so she can sing to him the sky,
the wind, and the beauties of the nature…
Juangu joins Fanleay in the rebel army with other comrades;
they are determined to liberate the whole country from
the iron claw of tyranny.
Opera ends with everyone in the chorus singing a boiling
and sublime finale. |
本歌劇故事集中於兩對愛人身上—姱娃與韓壯，絹姑與樊烈。他們生存在一個暴力動亂的時代，他們的愛面臨著噩運的強烈阻擾，他們不由自主地投身在驚天動地的洪流裏。為了爭取和平與歡欣，為了他們堅貞不渝的愛情，甚至不惜犧牲自己的生命！
姱娃心地善良，一如降臨人間的仙子，是凡夫俗子心靈的甘露，是卑微人生所仰望的救贖。
韓壯於韓被秦所滅後，曾協助張良行刺秦王。但行刺失敗，使他陷入抑鬱苦悶的心情，直到姱娃的出現，給他帶來新的希望，新的生命。
師幽一見姱娃，便知他找到了第一等『入相女』，將會對他所修鍊的彭祖長生之道，帶來成功的保障。可是卻如何也得不到姱娃的心。
絹姑本為玁狁公主，卻因部落為秦所滅，而被擄至酈山為奴。
樊烈乃一血性青年，言行每每與嚴峻的法規有所抵觸。但他此一個性，卻正是絹姑衷心所希望得到的，因此不由自主地愛上他。
樊烈後來果為酈山駐軍逮捕，送往北邊修築長城。但他中途脫逃而參加了起義的軍伍。
韓壯一開始命運便被決定了。因為他知道太多陵墓內部機關的秘密。秦國一向有生人殉葬的習俗，所以秦始皇一定不會讓他活著出墓。
當最後韓壯因師幽的陷害而終於被封入墓中，姱娃因而自盡，並化身黃鳥，長飛酈山，以甜美的歌聲與所愛的人相伴一生。
最後全劇在所有眾人的大合唱中結束。大合唱除了歌誦愛情的偉大，並表達了起義軍為爭取和平與幸福生活的決心與勇氣。 |
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| ACTION
ON STAGE |
TITLE
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ANALYSIS
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ACITON
ON STAGE |
PRELUDE
WAR DRUMS OF LISAN |
Time:
Imaginary
Place:
Imaginary
Characters:
Qin Shihuang
Terracotta
Warriors |
A
bronze statue of Qin Shihuang and hundreds of terracotta
warriors suddenly come to life and perform a military
ritual of song and dance.
The librettos are pieced together
based on extensive historical research into the military
rituals of the ancient times, particularly a dance called
‘Wan Wu.’ |
ACT
I
Scene 1
LISAN SPRING |
Time:
216 B.C. December
Place:
Potters’ quarter
Characters:
Juangu
Slave Girls
Potters
Workers
Soldiers |
It is the 5th
year of Qin dynasty. By decree, the name of the month
of December is now changed from ‘La’ to ‘Japing’
upon the suggestion of a soothsayer.
A snowy winter morning, workers
start a day’s labour with a song about the hardship
of the life at Lisan.
Juangu leads a group of slave
girls to do the laundry beside a pond. They sing a song
about their homeland.
Juangu remembers her deceased
father and brother. |
ACT
I
Scene 2
QUAVA’S LAMENT |
Time:
Same as Scene 1
Place:
Same as Scene 1
Characters:
Quava
Juangu
Fanleay
FatherFan
General Chao
Shihyu
Workers
Slaver Girls
Soldiers |
New workers and
new slaves arrive from all over the country. Among them,
Quava and her family. From the southern territory of
Choo, her father, a potter, was recruited to make the
sculptures of the soldiers. Her mother did not make
the trip. Quava can not accept this cruel fact and acts
as if her mother is still alive. Her father has to slap
her to wake her up.
In a song, Quava reminisces her
childhood and laments the loss of her mother. Juangu
comes forward to comfort Quava and asks her to accept
the fate. But it is immediately rejected by Quava’s
brother, Fanleay. Being a hot blooded young man, he
believes in fighting for what one deserves! General
Chaotu arrives with more soldiers to maintain the order
and disperses the crowd.
Juangu immediately falls in love
with brave Fanley.
Hidden aside is the High Priest
– Shihyu, he instinctively recognizes a special quality
in Quava, which indicates that she is the best companion
he can ever find, in his searching for immortality. |
ACT
I
Scene 3
LITTLE SQUIRREL,LITTLE
SQUIRREL |
Time:
Same as Scene 1
Place:
A Restricted Area Nearby
Characters:
Hantrong
Quava
Juangu
Shihyu
|
Hantrong steps
into a restricted area where treasures are stored underground,
to investigate the ‘danger’ – for booby traps are
all over this area; one wrong move will trigger arrows
shooting from all the angles. His secret mission is
to survey the area, and then to warning the villagers
and workers not to come near here, so innocent people
will not be killed accidentally. He has surveyed quite
a few such sites around the mausoleum.
On a small hillside he noticed
a plum tree with only one white blossom. As he approaching
it, he steps on a dead squirrel killed by an arrow.
He throws some more stones toward the tree; arrows fly
around. He takes out writing instruments (brush, ink,
and bamboo sticks – used as paper) and starts to jut
down notes.
Quava wonders in, sees the plum
blossom immediately. She walks toward the tree. Hantrong
launches at her, covering and protecting her. They fall,
an arrow braised Hantrong’s shoulder. Their eyes meet
and they sing a love duet. |
|
ACT I – Scene 3[Continues] |
Juangu comes to
look for Quava. Two women dress his wound. Juangu suggests
that instead of passing on the warning instruction person
to person, why not working all these information into
a children’s song, which will be easier to memorise
therefore more effective.
They pick up objects that Hantrong
had dropped on the ground and start working together
on a children’s song as they leave.
Shihyu comes out of the hidden
space. He saw the whole incident. He picks up a piece
of cloth stained with blood and a bamboo stick, on which
Hantrong wrote down harsh criticism on the Emperor. |
ACT
II
Scene 1
WORKERS’ SONGS |
Time:
215 B.C. 32nd year of Qin Shihuang Month of May
Place:
Workers’ quarter near the excavation site
Characters:
Carpenters Stone Carvers Coolies Slaver Girls Soldiers
Quava Juangu Fanleay Shihyu Hantrong |
Three groups –
carpenters, stone carvers, dirt carrying coolies, each
sing a song about their work.
Soldiers make passes at and flirt
with slave girls, who bring food to the workers. It
is lunchtime; everyone finds their own corner to eat.
After lunch, there will be a parade
in memory of a great poet – Chiu Yuan. This is a special
day for people from the southern territory of Choo,
where Quava is from.
Quava and Juangu wait for Hantrong,
who is delayed in an underground digging. The digging
seems to reach the bed rock.
Fanleay takes Juangu away, Quava
is left along. Shihyu approaches her. In a song, he
tries to coerce her to join him into certain secret
ritual to achieve an immortal life. He threatens her
that if she refuses, he will make sure that Hantrong
will not escape the fate of being buried alive, after
the Emperor’s death; because Hantrong knows too much
of the secret of the mausoleum. Shihyu claims that in
this world, only he can spare Hantrong’s life.
Hantrong surfaces from the digging.
Shihyu conveys the instruction from the Prime Minister
Lee Sy – if the digging reaches the bed rock, dig sideways
300 sq meters to prepare for the burial chamber. Then
he leaves them alone.
Hantrong asks Quava if Shihyu
is harassing her. Quava is frightened; it is the first
time she is told about Hantrong will be buried alive
with the Emperior. Hantrong admits the cruel fact, but
consoles her that he and a few other workers who face
the same fate are digging secretly an escape passage
to save many other lives. Quava still worries, particularly
she is afraid of Shihyu. Hantrong tells her not to worry,
because Shihyu is a very indecisive person, not a ‘doer.’
Shihyu actually is hiding nearby;
therefore he hears every word they were saying.
The parade is about to begin,
Quava and Juangu are going to join them. |
ACT
I
IScene 2
FOLKS’ SONGS AND DANCES |
Time:
Same as scene 1
Place:
Same as scene 1
Characters:
Workers Quava Juangu Fanleay Hantrong Shihyu Musician
Kao |
Choo people have
their very distinctive customs. The participants in
the parade will dress themselves up and perform songs
and dances according to Chiu Yuan’s poems. Their costumes
are sometimes so scant that the authorities considered
them as nudity and banned them.
As soon as the parade starts,
General Chao and his guards come out to enforce the
ban. Soldiers take away several participants in almost
semi nudity.
In order to soften the confrontation,
some friendly soldiers group together and present their
own Qin style of song and dance.
Next, Fanleay and Juangu lead
people from the north in a nomadic song and dance.
Followed by Quava and girls from
the south in a boat dance depicting lotus-harvesting
on the pond.
Next are the people from the territory
of Yen. Their late Prince Dan had taken on a bold mission
of sending Jing Ke – the greatest assassin, |
ACT
II – Scene 2
[Continues] |
to end the dictator’s
life. The assassin failed. People lament that two brave
souls have been lost. Their song and dance imitates
feats of Kung Fu; if they can master the skill, the
next assassination will be a success.
When their fighting and combatant
dance and beat become faster and faster and with such
an impact, it triggers one person in the spectators
to burst into a scream and stands himself into the spot
light … |
ACT
II
Scene 3
WIND FROM RIVER YI |
Time:
Same as scene 1
Place:
Same as scene 1
Characters:
Musician Kao Hantrong Fanleay General Chao Workers |
He is Jing Ke’s
best friend, the Musician Kao Jienli. Because of his
involvement in the assassination, he is on the ‘wanted’
list by the authority. Hantrong and Shihyu realise who
he is immediately.
In a trance Musician Kao describes
the scene on the day Prince Dan held a farewell party
for Jing Ke by the bank of River Yi. In the middle of
the song, Shihyu exists to report this ‘wanted’ person
to General Chao.
When Musician Kao finishes the
singing, Hantrong debates with him on the approach that
the late Prince Dan took to plan the assassination.
He criticises Prince Dan being
blinded by his own personal rage and could not anticipate
what Jing Ke would be facing at the very moment of the
assassination in the Emperor’s Sianyang Palace.
As both argue on, each randomly
picks up workers to be different characters to play
out the assassination; only Fanleay is picked up to
play Jing Ke, Hantrong himself acts as Qin Shihuang.
In a play-in-the-play, this famous assassination is
entirely carried out with mime and accompanied by percussion
music only.
The mime clearly demonstrates
Hantrong’s point; it is Jing Ke’s assistant – Chin
Wuyang, a young and inexperienced street hoodlum picked
up personally by Prince Yen Dan, when confronted with
the real dictator, gets so scared that he involuntarily
starts to shake.
Starting with a ‘bang’ by clipping
two pieces of wood together, the percussion music quickly
picks up momentum, as Jing Ke first mime out the plan
to the spectator. The plan is to present a map of Yen’s
richest cities to the Emperor, as a symbol of submission
from Prince Yen Dan to Qin. But rolled up in the centre
of the map is a poisonous dagger. Chin Wuyang would
bring the map to the Emperor, Jing Ke would present
the rich resources of the cities to the Emperor, as
the map is being unrolled to the end, Jing Ke would
grab the dagger and thrust into the heart of the dictator.
Now Jing Ke has to make it all
by himself, the tension is so great, the percussion
beats are faster and faster, soon the entire cast submerges
in a shimmy dance, as Jing Ke calmly approaches the
Emperor.
Everything comes to an abrupt
end the moment the Emperor kills Jing Ke. Musician Kao
lets out a desperate scream.
General Chao and soldiers rush
in to arrest Musician Kao and other characters, include
Fanleay. |
ACT
III
Scene 1
WHISPERS OF THE NIGHT |
Time:
210 B.C
Place:
Observatory Tower
Characters:
Shihyu Priests |
On the Observatory
Tower situated on a mountain top at the outskirt of
the mausoleum, High Priest Shihyu is just finishing
the night’s ritual. All the rest of the priests gradually
descend down the steps of a long and winding stair to
the ground.
Sure of being completely left
alone, Shihyu in a long soliloquy gradually reveals
the darkest secret of his soul.
He first examines again the blood
stained cloth and bamboo stick. Due to his indecisiveness,
he did not report these evidences to the higher authority
immediately; he missed the opportunity to eliminate
his rival in winning Quava’s heart.
He reveals that his teacher, the
late Master Quaygu, had predicted that he is not smart
enough to achieve his goal in his study of immortality,
|
ACT
III – Scene 1
[Continues] |
unless god send
him a medium. To him, Quava is the medium. Yet, he can’t
reach her; yet, he is getting old.
Suddenly a swarm of fireflies
passes through the stage. He is excited, he wants them
to represent him, to reach Quava and present his love
to her. But immediately he retracts them, because he
realizes that firefly’s faint light can not possibly
represent his overwhelming love for Quava. He notices
two fireflies responding to each other with their flickering
lights. Then the two fireflies mate with each other.
He realizes those flickering lights are communication
signals.
Amazed by the things with the
Nature, he ponders on many natural phenomena and begins
to ask questions about nature, and about other social
and historical issues; only to feel so frustrated that
not even one person can answer any of his questions.
(Scientific researches and discoveries were almost nonexistent
at that time.) Exhausted by the desperation, he collapses
on stage.
A second swarm of fireflies passes
through the stage. He dreams himself become one of them.
He starts to descend the stairs.
He notices another pair of flickering lights. He congratulates
the male firefly that it is going to have its mate.
But what happened next completely changes his mind.
One of the fireflies starts to eat the other. (It is
a different species mimicking another species’ mating
call for food.) To Shihyu, it is god’s answer to his
questions: in order to survive the mating game, one
should kill the rival by all means.
He throws away the stained clothe
and the bamboo stick, quickly runs down the stairs,
determined to eliminate Hantrong. |
ACT
III
Scene 2
AN INTRIGUING LETTER |
Time:
Same as scene 1
Place:
Same as scene 1
Characters:
Shihyu General Chao |
At the landing,
he sees General Chaotu is approaching, holding something
in hand. It is a confidential letter from General Chaotu’s
God Father, Chao Gao – the appointed teacher to the
youngest son of the Emperor. It reveals a most horrible
crime against the dynasty.
Emperor Qin Shihuang has died
of illness on the touring trip to the south. But Chao
Gao and Prime Minister Lee Sy come up with a scheme
of stealing the country. They did not announce the death
immediately, nor did they carry out the Emperor’s last
will. Instead, they changed the will and ordered the
oldest son and heir to the thrown – Fu Su, to die and
made the youngest son – Hu Hai the heir.
They want Chaotu to notify Shihyu
only, so the preparation can be started right away.
They are on their way back to the Capital, the return
trip will take about two months.
Shihyu decides to make sure that
Hantrong will be eliminated for good, so he can have
Quava for himself. He instructs Chaotu to kill the letter
carrier first, and keep everything in secret and wait
for the final day to come. |
ACT
III
Scene 3
AN EXCURSION ON THE FISH
LAKE
ACT III – Scene 3
[Continues] |
Time:
210 B.C. 7th of July
Place:
Fish Lake and its beach
Characters:
Workers
Quava
Hantrong
Several Maidens
Chaperone Lady
Juangu |
Many modern day
Chinese festivals may well be started in Qin dynasty.
The ‘Eve of July the 7th’is just one of them. The
star ‘Weaver’ will cross the milky way tonight, to
reunite with the star ‘Cowboy.’ (It is now considered
as the equivalent of Valentine’s day.) So, this is
the day all the girls will have a field trip of boating
with their lover in the Fish Lake.
Quava and Hantrong are found alone
on the beach next to a peach orchard. She wants him
to teach her some classic poems. He starts with “Yellow
Birds.” The bird is golden oriole, which is indigenous
to Lisan. That’s the reason Hantrong chooses this poem.
Unfortunately it is a poem about Qin’s ancestor –
Moo Gong, by who’s decree had 177 people buried alive
with him when he died in 621 B.C. This of course upsets
Quava, she starts to cry. But they are interrupted by
a flock of maidens frolicking through the orchard.
Hantrong teaches Quava a second
“Yellow Birds” poem.
They are interrupted again by
a chaperone lady who asks Quava to thread a need for
her.
Hantrong teaches Quava a third
“Yellow Birds” poem in which oriole’s behavior of
nesting on higher branches is observed. Confucius once
complemented the golden oriole as being a bird that
knows how to choose the site for its nest.
Quava enquires about the progress
of the escape passage. Hantrong re-assures its secrecy
to her. They both dream of a day that they could leave
everything behind and live on a boat together sailing
through all the lakes and seas of China.
Hantrong asks Quava to merry him.
Quava consents and vows to be always with him no matter
in life or in death. But Hantrong wants her to live
for him, not to die with him, in case if he could not
escape the fate. Inspired by the poems of ‘Yellow Birds’
Quava says that if this happens, she will turn herself
into a golden oriole and stay at Lisan and so she can
be with him forever.
Juangu interrupts them and brings
news on Fanleay and Musician Kao. Fanleay was sent to
the northern border to build the great wall, but he
escaped and now joined the rebel. Musician Kao was sent
to the Sianyang Palace to play ‘Tsu’ for the Emperor,
but they blinded him first, because he was a security
risk to be allowed into the palace.
Three of them yearn for a peaceful
time to come, in the mean time, from the orchard, comes
the crowd’s laughter. |
ACT
IV
Scene 1
A WEDDING IN THE PEACH
ORCHARD |
Time:
2 Months Later
Place:
Peach Orchard
Characters:
Workers |
A wedding is being
prepared in a peach orchard by the Fish Lake. The festival
mood is further lightened by the tongue-twister songs
the chorus are singing.
The Bride and Bridegroom in their
wedding costume arrive in ox-driven cart. They are helplessly
pushed around, subject to joyful games by the well-wishers.
But the festival is soon interrupted
by a morning crowd. General Chaotu and soldiers barge
in on the wedding. He announces that the Emperor is
dead. Hantrong is to be escorted back to the mausoleum
immediately.
As the soldiers lead Hantrong
away, Quava runs to him. But a hand grabs her, it is
Shihyu. He says to her that he knows a secret passage
where she can see her lover for the last time.
Quava is in total horror and curses
him. He drags her off stage. Juangu follows them. |
ACT
IV
Scene 2
THE EMPEROR’S UNIVERSE
ACT IV – Scene 2
[Continues] |
Time:
Sometimes Later
Place:
The Burial Chamber
Characters:
Hantrong
Burial Group
Shihyu
Quava
Soldiers |
An ancient Taoism
scholar once said that when he dies, he does not want
any burial, he wants the earth and the sky to be his
coffin.
Qin Shihuang wants the same thing;
only he puts the sky and earth in his burial chamber.
His sarcophagus is surrounded by a scaled model of the
whole country, complete with all famous cities, mountains,
and rivers. The rivers are filled with mercury. On the
vault ceiling of the chamber, precious stones are laid
out to form the entire constellation. (All these were
recorded in the first official History of China, written
by Szema Tsien – the greatest historian in Chinese
history, cir. 100 B.C.)
Hantrong enters the chamber, he
sings an aria in which he asks the Emperor, isn’t it
true that all these treasures can not stop the corps
begin decaying process? ‘Qin Shihuang’ literally means
‘The First Emperor of Qin.’ He asks how many will
the Qin dynasty go? (The 2nd Emperor – Hu Hai lasted
only two years, killed by Chao Gao. The 3rd Emperor
– Hu Hai’s brother’s son, managed to kill Chao Gao.
But one month later, he submitted the throne to one
of the rebel leaders and was executed by that leader.
After Qin Shihuang’s death, his dynasty fell in less
than five years.)
Crying and weeping, people gradually
enter the chamber. Hantrong opens the hidden passage
and directs them to escape. But immediately they are
forced back. Armed soldiers begin entering the chamber
from the secret passage, followed by Shihyu and Quava.
Dragging Quava with him, Shihyu come to the edge of
the stage, soldiers also line up at the edge.
Shihyu gives the order to seal
the chamber. The whole chamber begins to descend. Quava
struggles to jump into the chamber, Hantrong calls out
for her; soldiers fend him off. Quava manages to get
loose and runs off the stage, Shihyu chases after her.
Burial chamber is completely sealed.
Soldiers leave. On top is another identical burial chamber,
with all the treasures, cities, mountains, and rivers;
only with an empty sarcophagus, Qin Shihuang build a
false tomb to cover the real one. |
ACT
IV
Scene 3
GUARDIAN ANGEL OF LISAN
|
Time:
That Night
Place:
A Restricted Area
Characters:
Quava
Shihyu
Juangu
Fanleay
Hantrong
Entire Chorus |
Quava is in shock,
she subconsciously wonders to the restricted area where
she met Hantrong for the first time. Her mind is unable
to rid of the image of Hantrong being buried alive in
total darkness. She argues with god that he has away
dedicated himself to saving other people’s lives; but
why god lets Qin Shihuang taking his life away, and
in such a horrible way?
Eventually she recognises the
place, which brings her more fond memories of him.
Off stage comes Shihyu’s call
for her. She sees the plum tree and decides to kill
herself under the tree and turn herself into a golden
oriole; so with the beautiful singing, she can bring
the sky, the wind, the flowers, the seasons and everything
to him in the eternal darkness.
But she trips and falls to the
ground, arrows fly from all the angles. She starts to
craw herself to the tree.
Shihyu runs in and discovers the
situation. He warns her that the arrows are now poisonous.
Already reached the tree, she asks if it is his idea
to make the arrows poisonous? She also asks him what
will it be if the world is without love?
Seeing that she is going to use
an arrow to kill herself, Shihyu launches at her, but
only triggers more booby traps, and therefore is killed
by the poisonous arrows.
Juangu, Fanleay, and a small army
of the rebels run in and just in time to witness Quava
being transformed into a golden oriole.
Juangu carefully picks up the
golden oriole. In the background, on a higher stage,
everyone appear; including Quava, Hantrong, and Shihyu.
Everyone sings the finale chorus:
in an era of turmoil, only after so many unselfish devotions
and gallantries, the revolution will succeed; only with
such courageous self-sacrifices and eternal bonding
to one another, love and justice will prevail. |
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