Peking University, November 21, 2018: On the evening of November 17th, audience at the Peking University Hall spent an unforgettable night appreciating the Shanghai opera Dunhuang Daughter. Shanghai Opera Troupe of Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas produced the play to mark the 120th anniversary of Peking University. Starring Mao Shanyu, a renowned Shanghai opera performer, the opera depicts the legendary life of Fan Jinshi, third president of the Dunhuang Academy as well as an outstanding alumnus of PKU, who has been credited as “the daughter of Dunhuang" for more than 50 years.
As the curtain of PKU Hall auditorium rises, a dialogue transcending time and space gently unfolds between the grizzled Fan Jinshi and the late Chang Shuhong, the second president of Dunhuang Academy. A myriad of memories flows in, recounting Fan’s half-century transformation from a Shanghai girl to a PKU student to a scholar focusing on Dunhuang studies. Set at the boundless, harsh desert environment, the opera reveals the perseverance, creativity, faithfulness and sacrifice of Dunhuang scholars over several generations, and inspires the public to reflect upon the significance of cultural protection.
The opera pays a tribute to the 120th anniversary of PKU and the 40th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening-up. Amidst the conventions of traditional Shanghai opera, modern and regional features are also introduced into the lyrics. Besides, innovation of the play lies beyond lyrics. According to Zhang Manjun, director of the play, Dunhuang Daughter adopts time-and-space interlacing techniques to radiate poetic charms. For example, the revolving platform in the middle of the stage, as well as the two doors linking life and death, reality and illusion, blurs the boundary of time and space, thus establishing an imaginative dialogue.
PKU is not only Fan Jinshi’s Alta Mater, it also symbolizes the starting point of Fan’s “Dunhuang dream”. Fan summarizes her reason of staying in Dunhuang as “meeting our country’s need”. To her, talking empty patriotic talk without walking the walk is surely far off patriotism. In addition, she also speaks highly of the Shanghai Opera Troupe and its president Mao Shanyu.
2018 marks the third year of the collaboration between PKU Hall and Shanghai Opera Troupe. Over the past three years, the two sides have jointly brought three classic Shanghai opera works into PKU campus, namely, Deng Shichang, Thunderstorm and Dunhuang Daughter. In order to popularize Shanghai arts and culture and broaden students’ artistic horizon, the two sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation in multiple ways such as offering more knowledge to students and introducing more first-class operas.
Written by: Wang Xi
Edited by: Huang Yadan, Xu Liangdi
