Sun Bin (孫臏), a military strategist who lived during China's Warring States Period, decided to live with pigs, eat their food - and even their feces. It was part of a desperate ploy to convince others that he was crazy and therefore no longer a threat to the king of Wei.
But Sun Bin was a threat and the reasons why he evoked such fear in his countrymen are explored in Langyan Opera Troupe's (蘭陽戲劇團) play The Second-Greatest Military Strategist (兵學亞聖), beginning tomorrow night at Taipei City's Zhongshan Hall.
This tale of deceit, directed by popular gezai opera (歌仔戲) actor and impresario Tsao Fu-yung (曹復永), begins with Sun Bin and Pang Juan (龐涓) studying under Sun Tzu (孫子), China's most famous military strategist and author of The Art of War (孫子兵法). Although the two pupils are close friends, Pang Juan envies his classmate's far superior aptitude in military affairs.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LANGYAN OPERA TROUPE
After completing their studies, both students become military advisors to the king of the state of Wei (魏). The king immediately recognizes Sun Bin's strong moral character and remarkable intellect and makes him one of his primary military advisors. But Pang Juan, out of sheer jealousy, hatches a plan to bring disfavor on his friend by telling the king that Sun Bin is conspiring with the state of Qi (齊) against his kingdom. The plan works and the king has Sun Bin stripped of his rank - and kneecaps - and his face tattooed like a common criminal. At the same time, a diplomat from the state of Qi realizes the king's mistake and smuggles Sun Bin out of the kingdom along with Sun Tzu's famous book to serve as military advisor to the king of Qi.
Years later the states of Qi and Wei go to war, and it is on the battlefield that Sun Bin and Pang Juan, military strategists for the two kingdoms, meet again.
The Second-Greatest Military Strategist (兵學亞聖) will be performed at Taipei Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號), tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. NT$300 to NT$1,000 tickets are available through NTCH ticketing.
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