Pearl Tower

Pearl Tower is the prototype of Chen's old house in Xi opera Pearl Tower. In fact, Pearl Tower is not a tower, but the garden of a senior official. This is the largest garden in Tongli. There are mountains, water and rockery in the garden. There are also groups of fish. It is said that "joking about Qianlong" was once shot here.

The story of Pearl Tower originates from Tongli, where the protagonist Fang Qing meets her aunt, Cui e presents the tower and Chen Wang Dao marries her daughter. Only part of Chen cui'e's book building remains in the whole scenic spot. There is a model of Pearl Tower in the backyard. Others are built in modern times.

Pearl Tower

Tanci works in Qing Dynasty. Its full name is the complete biography of Xiaoyi Zhenji Pearl Tower. The author is anonymous. After being decorated by Suzhou Tanci artists Zhou Shushi and Ma Rufei, it spread gradually. The earliest extant edition is the one of Zhou Shushi's preface in Qianlong period. Sun Fangqing, the Prime Minister of the book, went to Xiangyang to borrow money from his aunt because of his family's misfortune. My cousin Chen cui'e gave him a pearl tower to help him read. The number one scholar in the rear Qing Guo asked for leave to get married. He first acted as a Taoist, sang Taoist love and shamed his aunt, and then married cui'e. In the section of Fang Qing's shameful aunt, the sarcasm against the mean and snobbish person is deeply rooted in the bones, which is very touching, so it is popular.

Historical origin

The story of Pearl Tower originates from Tongli, Wujiang, Suzhou. The protagonist Fang Qing meets her aunt, Cui e presents the tower and Chen Wangdao marries her daughter. Therefore, this scenic spot is set up in Tongli, which is also called "Pearl Tower". Only part of Chen cui'e's Library remains in the whole scenic spot. Tongli town began to invest more than 20 million yuan to repair this scenic spot. The well-known eternal masterpiece will spread in Tongli and flow far away

In ancient times, Chen's archway was located between Fuguan bridge and Yong'an bridge in the north of Tongli town. After the death of Chen Wangdao, the censor of Nanjing Road in 1580, the imperial court praised him for his official integrity and outstanding achievements. Archway three facade size, with four square stone columns with a diameter of about feet to pull up to stand. The upper part of the archway is made of Phoebe. The eaves of the archway are tilted and the middle forehead is flat. The four characters of "Qing Dynasty Shiyu" are engraved on the top of the archway. The lower forehead is engraved with "Ming Wanli Gengchen is the censor of Nanjing Dao, Chen Wang Daoli". On many wooden frames, various kinds of lifelike birds and animals are carved. Behind the archway is Chen Wangdao's former residence, in which there are Chen's ancestral hall, Fuji hall and Chen caie's library. There is also a pair of big blue stone lions in front of the archway, which is very dignified.

Chen Wangdao: according to the records of Tongli annals, Chen Wangdao (1526-1576 A.D.) was named Yu Fu, Jing Suo and hao'an. He was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1565 A.D.), a magistrate of Jin county, and a Buyang letter. All of them wrote in Liangyi with integrity and prudence. Later, he was Shao Wushou, and promoted to Nanjing censor. According to legend, the number room of Nandu Gongyuan was covered with a reed mat. It was worth the rain and wind, and the earth was unbearable. He asked Yi Zhi to use tile, so he was deeply loved by scholars. It is said that after the death of his wife Yuanpei, he succeeded his wife Fang. The Pearl Tower, a folk legend, tells the story of King Chen's marriage to his daughter.

Zaobang repertoire

Pearl Tower is also known as Fang Qing's shy aunt and Jiu song ting. The traditional repertoire of Zaobang. The story originated from the Tanci of the Qing Dynasty, complete biography of Xiaoyi Zhenji Pearl Tower. The performance of Zaobang is divided into two parts. It is said that after the Ming Dynasty, Fang Qing's family suffered an accident and was defeated halfway. In order to go to Beijing for an exam, he went to borrow money from his Aunt Chen's family. Instead of borrowing money, Chen's family insulted him. Chen Nu cui'e and Fang Qing had an engagement. When she learned that, she made an appointment with Fang Qing to meet each other, give her silver and a Pearl Tower, which was handed down from generation to generation. The rear Qing got the number one scholar in the middle, granted bafu xunjiao, and went on a tour according to the order. Passing by Chen's family, she came into Chen's house as a Taoist, singing Taoist love and satirizing her aunt. Chen's regret made Fang Qing and cui'e finally get married. In 1958, Zhao Fenglai, sun liangbo, etc. finished and rearranged, and re rehearsed by Heze Zaobang troupe, Cui Xiufang as Fang Qing, fan Xiuling as Chen cuie, and unit red as Chen Shi. Manuscript collected by Shandong Art Institute. Lu Opera and Liuqin opera have this repertoire.

Introduction to xiju Opera

This story is the origin of the famous traditional Xi opera Pearl Tower. It is mainly about the love story between Fang Qing and Chen cuie. Story summary:

Henan Fangjia has been an official for generations. Because of the participation, the whole family copied, sealed and demoted. Fang Qing fled to Xiangyang for help from her aunt Fang duohua. Who expected that her aunt was snobbish, and when she saw that Fang Qing was down, she sneered: if she could win the middle and senior officials, she would like to receive Fang Qing on her knees with a fragrant plate on her head. Fang Qing left angrily. Cousin cui'e is virtuous and kind. She presents the Pearl Tower to Fang secretly under the pretext of dim sum. Chen Peide, his great uncle, was very righteous. He chased his horse to jiusongting and betrothed his daughter to Fangqing. On Huangzhou Road, Fang Qing was robbed and the Pearl Tower was robbed. Chen cuie learns that Fang Qing is in danger, so she can't get up. In a hurry, Chen Peide fakes Fang Qing's letter to comfort her daughter. Three years later, Fang Qing won the first place in the imperial examination. He was appointed as the governor of seven provinces. He disguised himself and came to Xiangyang again. He sang a song to test his aunt and hoped that she would wake up. Unexpectedly, my aunt's nature was hard to change, and finally she broke her promise and knelt down to meet Fang Qing with a fragrant plate on her head. Fang Qing holds up her aunt and uses incense plates as a warning to show that future generations praise and care for her, and her cousins and nephews resolve their past grudges.

Outline of the story

The story outline of Pearl Tower (1926)

Fang Ziwen is a native of Henan Province. His family has been a high-ranking official for several generations, but his father died unjustly. Fang Ziwen and his mother Yang lived in Xiangfu County, where they were caught in a fire and their family was destitute. Censor Chen Lian, his uncle, has retired and lives in Xiangyang. Chen Lian's birthday is coming. Yang ordered Ziwen to celebrate his birthday. Chen Xuan, the general manager of the Chen family, was an old servant of the Fang family. His original name was Wang Ben. Because of the failure of the Fang family, he came to the Chen family, met Zi Wen, introduced the inner garden and reported to his wife. Mrs. Chen is Ziwen's aunt. Seeing Ziwen's shabby clothes, she is not happy in her heart and shows her contempt in her words. Zi Wen is full of learning and talent. He is arrogant and doesn't want to be despised by his aunt. He wanted to walk away and come at her mother's order, so he had to say that he wanted to borrow money. His wife refused, and Ziwen left angrily. Chen cui'e, Chen Lian's daughter, has a chivalrous heart. Seeing that Ziwen was angry and wanted to go, Caiping chased out and kept Ziwen. She took Ziwen's bag and brought it to meet cui'e. cui'e also felt aggrieved when she said that her wife had treated Ziwen harshly, so she put the treasure pearl tower in the food box and took it to Ziwen's bag to say goodbye. When Ziwen met in the mansion, Wang didn't know. He told Duke Chen about Ziwen's coming to the mansion. Chen Gong is very happy and walks into the back garden. He meets Caiping and asks about Ziwen's residence. Caiping reports the truth. Duke Chen is very angry. He wanted to go in and blame his wife, but he was afraid that Ziwen would go far away, so he rode after her. When Ziwen went to Jiusong Pavilion, he was hungry. He took out cuie's food box and found the Pearl Tower. He was very moved. Chen Gong catches up with Zi Wen and persuades him to go back together. Zi Wen insists on going. Chen Gong praises Zi Wen for his ambition and gives cui'e Xu Zi Wen face to face. Chen Gong went home to tell his wife about Xu's marriage, but his wife was quite dissatisfied. Ziwen went to Huangzhou and stayed in an ancient temple at night. He saw a big man sleeping under a incense table. He thought he was a thief. He ran out of the temple and lost his way. He fell into the water and lost his luggage on the broken bridge. Qiu Liuqiao, a famous man of the Han Dynasty, is a kind and honest man. He sells firewood to support his mother and sleeps in the temple at night. Bi Yunxian, commander in chief, was transferred to Huangzhou. He took a boat to the river at night. When he saw something floating down the river, he ordered his servants to pick it up, but it was Ziwen. They were originally friends. Because the examination time is approaching, Yun Xian advises Ziwen to go to Beijing with him to take the exam without going home. Ziwen is happy to go. Qiu Liuqiao got up early and went into the mountain. He found Ziwen's bag and the Pearl Tower. He didn't know what it was. When he took it home, his mother saw it was a treasure and ordered Liuqiao to pursue the owner and return it. The six bridges could not be found. For fear of losing something at home, Qiu's mother ordered the six bridges to be set up in Xiangyang, and the pawn shop was set up by Chen Gong. She was suspicious of the Pearl Tower, so she took it home and left the six bridges in the pawn shop. Cui'e saw the color change of the tower and told her father about the gift. The tower was lost, so Liuqiao was arrested and put into prison. Cui'e got sick because she was frightened. Duke Chen sent Wang ben to Xiangfu to inquire. He found that there was no one in Fang's family. It turned out that Yang's family had been away for a long time and decided to go to Xiangyang, where her neighbor's wife gave her money to help. When Yang went to jiusongting, he got the news that his son was missing. He was extremely indignant and wanted to commit suicide by diving. The master of the pavilion rescues and arranges yang to live in Baiyun nunnery. At this time, with the help of general Bi, Zi Wen changed his name to bi Ting, Zhongdian yuan, and was appointed as the patrol post of seven provinces. One day, cui'e went to baiyun'an and met Yang. She went home and told Chen Gong that Ziwen was no longer alive. Chen Gong happens to receive a letter from Bi Yunxian. Cui e is glad to see her confidence. Ziwen pretends to be a poor scholar and goes to Chen's house to make a song to mock his wife. Caiping tells him where Ziwen's mother lives, and Ziwen runs away.

Yue Opera repertoire

Introduction to the play

Yue Opera is a traditional opera.

Fang Qing, the son of an official in Henan Province, went to borrow money from his aunt Xiangyang. He was ridiculed by his aunt and refused to return. He vowed that no official would enter Chen's family. Cousin Chen cui'e got the news and secretly presented a Pearl Tower in the name of giving dry snacks. Uncle Chen Peide admired his ambition and rushed to jiusongting to marry cui'e to Fangqing. Fang Qing was robbed of the Pearl Tower by the robber Qiu Liuqiao on her way home. She was frozen in the snow and saved by Bi Yunxian, an official family. When Qiu collected the Pearl Tower for silver, it was discovered by Chen Fu. Chen Peide and cui'e learned that Fang Qing had been killed and their whereabouts were unknown. The Empress Dowager of the rear was appointed an official in the pilot test. He disguised himself and went to Chen's house to see his aunt by singing Taoist love. Fang duohua was even more sarcastic when he saw his nephew's poverty. But the uncle saw the truth, and eventually married cui'e, Fang duohua was ashamed of the people.

Performance history

The play comes from the bibliography of singing books.

In March of the lunar calendar in 1906, the opera was performed for the first time in Chenjiazhuang, Yuhang. Ma Chaoshui as Fang Qing, Zhang Kangrong as Chen cuie, Zhang Bochu as Chen Peide, Huang Zhaoquan as Fang duohua, Zhang Jinkui as Fang Mu, Hongyun and Sankuai are played by Ren aqu and Qiu arxuan respectively, which is the birth of Yue opera.

On June 6, 1917,

Chinese PinYin : Zhen Zhu Ta