Based on the Book of Songs, or Shi Jing, a script about the beautiful love story of the king and queen of the Shang Dynasty — Wu Ding and Fu Hao — will be performed by the Han Tang Yuefu Ensemble at this year’s Taiwan International Festival of Arts (TIFA) to commemorate the ensemble’s 30th anniversary as well as to promote the nankuan court music tradition.
The King and Queen of the Shang Dynasty — Wu Ding and Fu Hao depicts the story of Wu Ding, who ruled during the 23rd reign of the Shang Dynasty, and his wife Fu Hao, the first heroine ever recorded in Chinese history, both of whom were extremely talented and wise individuals. When Wu Ding became entangled in an arduous expedition against the Chu Kingdom, Fu Hao neglected her pregnancy in order to lead troops to help her husband in the war effort. Though they were ultimately victorious in battle, she eventually died from illness after having a miscarriage. The sentimental Wu Ding was unwilling to accept that his wife had departed from this mortal world, so instead of following the customary ritual of burying one’s wife in a mausoleum, he buried her at the side of the palace hall, allowing them to be together in life and death. This historical anecdote intrigued the Han Tang Yuefu Ensemble’s artistic director Chen Mei-e, who says the story is classic, romantic and beautiful, which made it highly suitable for a nankuan interpretation.
The piece will be performed between March 23 and March 25 at the National Theater.
Photo: Song Chih-hsiung, Liberty Times
照片： 自由時報記者宋志雄
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
以《詩經》為主軸，殷商帝王武丁與王后婦好的美麗愛情故事為腳本，漢唐樂府在二０一二年台灣國際藝術節推出三十週年成團作品《殷商王后》，發揚南管雅樂。
《殷商王后》故事描述武丁是商朝第二十三代王，婦好則是歷史上記載第一位巾幗英豪，才智雙全。武丁伐楚時陷入苦戰，婦好不顧身懷六甲，率兵援救，贏得勝利，但因動了胎氣，隨而病歿。多情武丁不捨婦好逝世，不循把婦好安葬於王陵區的禮俗，而是厚葬於宮殿側，生死相隨。這個歷史引起了漢唐樂府藝術總監陳美娥的興趣，她說這個故事古典、浪漫又唯美，以南管詮釋非常貼切。
Photo: Song Chih-hsiung, Liberty Times
照片： 自由時報記者宋志雄
該演出將於三月月二十三日到二十五日演出，地點在國家劇院。
（自由時報記者趙靜瑜）
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