Life is like a play, and a play is like life.
Four hundred years ago, in 1616 AD, Shakespeare died in the English town of Stratford, and in the same year, in the far East (44th year of the Ming Wanli calendar), Tang Xianzu died in Linchuan, Jiangxi, and the two cultural giants left one after another, only a hundred days apart.
It may be a coincidence, but at that time, the residual heat of the Great Navigation Age was not gone, science and technology were moving towards initial development, literary and artistic progress, the authority of the church was gradually weakening, the world economy was expanding and opening up, the ideological field was active, the eastern and western worlds were affected, and the field of culture and art thus underwent major changes: the Western Renaissance impacted the church; The Chinese Yangming doctrine flourished. In such an atmosphere, it is easy to produce the energy of literary exploration and artistic everyone.
Four hundred years later, in 2016, the world set off a climax in the commemoration of Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu, these activities not only reawakened some memories, but also urged people to think deeply about the significance of classic characters in historical development, so it is both a memorial to the individual and a memorial to the times.
On October 21, 2016, Muxin Art Museum's 2016 special exhibition "Shakespeare/Tang Xianzu" will open in the underground special exhibition hall and open to the public from October 22, 2017 until March 19, 2017. At 5:30 p.m. on October 21st, the opening drama "Shakespeare Opera Recitation" proposed, conceived, organized and personally planned by the famous actor Pu Cunxin, will be officially staged at the Wuzhen Xizha Old Street Chinese Music Theater. At that time, Pu Cunxin, together with Song Chunli, Chen Xiaoyi, Hu Jun, Xu Tao, Ren Zhihong, Shi Chunling and other famous performing artists, will recite the classic fragments of Shakespeare's famous plays and share with the public the shocking fragments of Shakespeare's plays from 400 years ago.
At this time, Wuzhen coincided with the fourth drama festival, full of drama, the theme of this year's theater festival is "overlook", taking the meaning of basing on the classic and looking at the future. In a sense, this special exhibition also adds the meaning of "reflection" on this basis, both being in it and turning back.
Shakespeare eternity
"Shakespeare" has long been a symbol and has become an important cultural soft power of Britain.
Shakespeare lived to be 52 years old, leaving behind 38 plays, 154 sonnets and other poems, writing about too many people's lives and his own life mysteries. Goethe commented: "When I read his first page, I belonged to him all my life." After reading the first part, I was like a blind man born, and a strange hand made my eyes see the light in an instant." Queen Victoria once said that it was better to lose India than Shakespeare. And British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote a "soft text" for Shakespeare directly: "From love stories to four tragedies, from fantastic ideas to humorous comedies, from classic famous sentences to immortal characters, Shakespeare is not only a writer, his broad imagination, unlimited creativity and endless humanistic feelings, encompassing the entire human world, reaching the realm of 'no ancients before, no one after'." ”
Shakespeare
White satin dress (front), worn in 1985 by Niyam Cussack, the character of Desdemona in Othello. Image courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Men's leggings and tights (front), worn in 1961 by Othello's character John Gilgood. Image courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Why does "Shakespeare" have such charm?
British Ambassador to China Wu Baina said: "Shakespeare is one of the most important cultural symbols in the world. Even now, 400 years after his death, the astonishing influence of his work continues not only in China, but also around the world. John Whittingdale, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, commented: "Shakespeare is one of the most eminent representatives of British literature, and even 400 years after his death, his work continues to shock the hearts of readers of all ages around the world and remains a source of inspiration for many film directors, writers and artists." Sir Ciarándevane, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: "William Shakespeare is one of the most enduring writers of influence on culture and communication. His work has provided inspiration for artistic creation countless times, provided impetus for change, and through his language, people from all walks of life have also created stages for self-expression. ”
Shakespeare is one of the world's greatest playwrights and poets, he is like a catalyst, to inspire others, to obtain greater and stronger creativity, in the eyes of many, Shakespeare represents another great tradition: the great concern for reality, the emphasis on drama, the conflict of human nature, from homer's epic poem. One of The greatest achievements of Shakespeare's Renaissance era was the exaltation of humanistic and spiritual ideas.
The most original Hamlet script, there are only 2 in the world. The volume was published in 1603. Images courtesy of the British Library
Illustration, 17th century interior theatre. The volume was published in 1662. Images courtesy of the British Library
Printed, a shakespeare monument carved by Andrew Miller based on Shakespeare's true dimensions, is located at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The print was published in 1741. Images courtesy of the British Library
"We can see the defense and respect for human rights in Shakespeare's works, without which Shakespeare's works would be no different from the daily entertaining dramas of that era." Li Shaojun, a Chinese poet and deputy editor-in-chief of Poetry Magazine, said: "The problems and challenges facing Shakespeare in those years were the exploration and search for new ideals, new values and meanings, because poetry, as the most sensitive tentacle and detector of the times, was the first to feel the changes in the current reality and the subtle feelings of human nature. Li Shaojun believes that in the era of the alternation of the old and the new, Shakespeare responded to the challenges of the times, which is the enlightenment and legacy left to future generations.
Chinese writer Zhao Lihong has visited Shakespeare's former home: "So far, 100 million tourists have visited Shakespeare's former home, and I have seen countless writers sign guestbooks. Shakespeare seems to be our contemporary, living among readers for four hundred years, and it is his glory, but also the glory of literature, and it is the charm of words and human emotions that makes his works have such a long vitality. ”
Shakespeare discovered new characters and provided new definitions for the people who lived, and it was because of his inventions that these things that happened to humans became meaningful.
Hand-painted color map of Venice in the 16th century. Venice is the site of The Merchant of Venice and the first act of Othello. Images courtesy of the British Library
Photography, played by John Gilgood in King Lear in 1940. Images courtesy of the British Library
Life is like a dream
If life is like a dream, how do we maintain our purity and attachment to our ideals?
Tang Xianzu, a native of Linchuan (present-day Fuzhou, Jiangxi), was a 34-year-old zhongjinshi who served as a doctor of the Taichang Temple in Nanjing and the head of the ceremonial department. He was belittled for attacking the government and impeaching his ministers. During his five years in charge of Suichang, he promoted the advantages and eliminated the disadvantages, resisted the evil government, and was deeply loved by the people of the county. In 1598, he resigned from the government and returned to The Hidden Linchuan Yuming Hall to specialize in opera creation. Tang Xianzu's "Four Dreams of Linchuan" represented by "Peony Pavilion" is world-renowned, containing distinct nationality and fresh originality, reflecting the deep concern for society and profound thinking about human nature. In addition to the creation of opera, Tang Xianzu also wrote many poems, of which there are more than 2,000 poems.
Tang Xianzu
The "Four Dreams" created by Tang Xianzu after abandoning his official post and returning home appealed to the end of his life sigh, his sense of career, and his spiritual dreams, slammed into feudal etiquette, and deeply exposed the shortcomings of the current world. With its twists and turns, vivid images, beautiful literary dictionaries and harmonious vocal rhythms, it has been performed for 400 years and has become the "brightest scenery" in the history of Chinese opera. In particular, "Peony Pavilion", a full book of 55, describes the poignant love story of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei", "the living can die, and the dead can be revived", and its level is so high that it can be called the crowning work in the history of Chinese opera.
However, for a century, compared with Chinese's familiarity with Shakespeare, Westerners know very little about Tang Xianzu, and even Chinese have not really entered the world of Tang Xianzu. Therefore, we have encountered a serious historical mission, that is, to make efforts to truly understand Tang Xianzu, and at the same time, through our efforts, let the world know a real and vivid Tang Xianzu. Ye Changhai, a professor at the Shanghai Theater Academy, said.
While Shakespeare is still thriving on the world theatre stage, Tang Xianzu and The Four Dreams of Linchuan are far removed from the cultural life of the Chinese masses.
The manuscript of the Republic of China period, "Peony Pavilion , Youyuan" and other rulers composed music scores. Photo courtesy of Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Suichang, Zhejiang Province
During the Republic of China period, the Shanghai Sweeping Leaf Mountain Fangzang edition of "Peony Pavilion Returns the Soul". Photo courtesy of Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Suichang, Zhejiang Province
In recent years, the academic research on Tang Xianzu has been concentrated. At the beginning of 2016, the "Academic Symposium to Commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Tang Xianzu's Death" was held in Shanghai, focusing on the cutting-edge achievements of Tang Xianzu's research in recent years. The Complete Collection of Tang Xianzu, published by the Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, is a comprehensive addition to the Complete Collection of Tang Xianzu compiled by the late Tang Xianzu research expert Professor Xu Shuofang. The Tang Xianzu Research Series published by the Shanghai People's Publishing House is also edited by Professor Ye Changhai and consists of seven monographs. "It's been 400 years since Tang Xianzu died, but he has never left us. His works have always been loved by people, and his thoughts and spirit have always inspired future generations. Wang Ankui, former director and researcher of the Chinese Academy of Arts' Institute of Drama, gave Tang Xianzu a high evaluation. Wang Ankui believes that Tang Xianzu's works embody profound traditional Chinese culture, and at the same time can closely link his creation with the real life of the era in which he lives, so it has a typicality that transcends time and space. Tang Xianzu was not a scholar, he had always been concerned about the fate of the country and the suffering of the people. His poems sharply attacked the shortcomings of the times, drummed and shouted for the people, and his plays vividly and profoundly reflected the social life of the Ming Dynasty through ancient stories, and still have a strong sense of reality today.
"Daytime consumption of intestinal sentences, the world is only difficult to complain." Tang Xianzu is good at using "love", he uses his enthusiasm to write the true love between men and women, pours infinite feelings into the play, affirms people's desires and people's emotional needs, and also declares the independence of personality and personality. In 17th-century China, how precious it was to be able to write such a work with oriental romantic colors. Yang Fengyi, president of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, once said that Tang Xianzu's works are not only classics of Kunqu art, but also representatives of China's outstanding cultural heritage, which have great cultural value and social significance. The emotional power of his plays will not fade in any era.
Youth Edition "Peony Pavilion"
Born in the mainland, raised in Taiwan, Professor Zheng Peikai studied in the United States to see Shakespeare in New York, until Taiwan was the first formal contact with Kunqu, in 1998, he went to the City University of Hong Kong to establish the Chinese Cultural Center, dedicated to the study and inheritance of Kunqu art. "Before the rediscovery of Tang Xianzu, his plays were relatively widespread, especially the Peony Pavilion, so our research is mostly concentrated here. His poems are actually very good, but they are rarely studied. In addition, he is also very interesting as a person, but the "History of Ming" mentions that Tang Xianzu is only a short paragraph, which is not very important. In the twenty-first century, why do we dig him again? I think it's this society that has changed, human cultural perceptions have changed, and our cognitive structure has changed. Now there is high-tech film and television technology, which can preserve theatrical performances, so there is film and television literature. Therefore, everyone can spend more effort on drama research, and the academic nature of research has improved, so that there will be a deep understanding. Zheng Peikai has studied Tang Xianzu for more than forty years, and once used it as part of his doctoral dissertation, and he believes that the current academic research on Tang Xianzu is not enough, "because there are too many famous figures in the history of Chinese literature." Moreover, when it comes to the Chinese literary tradition, the Shijing, Chu Ci, Han Le Fu, Tang Poems, Song Ci, and Yuan Qu are all down, and it is very late for Tang Xianzu. What's more, Tang Xianzu's drama belongs to the Ming legend within the framework of traditional Chinese literary research, which is regarded as the stamina of classical literature and has to stand on the sidelines. It was not until after the New Culture Movement that novels, dramas and other subjects were re-examined. These are actually biases. "Tang Xianzu absorbed a lot of popular folk things, but it did not hinder its elegance and elegance." The ancients said that Tang Xianzu's poems had the atmosphere of smoke and xia, and in addition to the poems, his endowments were also well written, but unfortunately there are no annotations now. ”
Tang Xianzu affirms the value of self-subjectivity and emphasizes personal life choices, which is the prominence of the late Ming Dynasty, and the philosophical support behind this is Yang Mingxue. Whether he was degraded or stripped of his name, he persevered. This personality with inner pursuits has a certain enlightening significance for today.
In yourself, overcome this era
Chen Danqing, Mu Xin's most loyal student, once quoted Nietzsche as saying of Mu Xin in the afterword to his Literary Memoirs: "Overcome this era in your own body." ”
Mu Xin's life, is not a drama? Not only the ups and downs, but also the inflection points, his life is closely related to the changes of the times, and the personal uniqueness is maximized. From Wuzhen to Shanghai, from Shanghai to New York, and then from New York back to his hometown, 84 years, alone, only literature and art are accompanied.
Wooden heart
Mu Xin was born in 1927, left his hometown of Wuzhen at the age of 15 to come to Hangzhou, and then went to Shanghai, just in his early 20s, he participated in the student movement, and was also a leader, as a result, he was personally expelled from school by wu Guozhen, the mayor of Shanghai at the time, and was wanted by the Kuomintang and avoided Taiwan. Returning to the mainland before the founding of New China in 1949, he was imprisoned in an abandoned air raid shelter that leaked rain and water for his speech. After half a year, he was transferred to prison and reformed through labor for 12 years. Everyone was rehabilitated, but he delayed. He began writing in 14 years, until he was 22 years old at the time of the Cultural Revolution, and all his works were burned and three fingers were broken. After the Cultural Revolution, he was the president of the Hangzhou Painting Research Society, the secretary general of the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Artists Association, the chief designer of the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Center, the editor-in-chief of the journal "Beautifying Life", and the professor of aesthetic theory at Jiaotong University. He is also one of the "Top Ten Designers" who participated in the major of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. But his mother died of an illness after he went to prison, and his home was gone. Since 1982, Mu Xin has lived in New York, usa, and rewrote at the age of 57, and in 1984, Mu Xin, who moved to New York for only two years, became a well-known overseas writer in Taiwan. In the winter of 1994, Mu Xin quietly returned to his hometown and arrived in Wuzhen. After returning to New York, he wrote the poem "Wuzhen", the prose "Wuzhen", and the prose "Where is Shanghai". "Wuzhen" was published in the "China Times", and in 1999 it was seen by Chen Xianghong, the party secretary of Wuzhen Township, and Mu Xin was found by his hometown. At the age of 19, Mu Xin participated in his first painting exhibition. At the age of 57, Harvard University held his first solo exhibition for Mu Xin. At the age of 74, the Yale University Museum of Art held an exhibition of the Wooden Heart Collection. At the age of 79, Chinese mainland published his first collection of Muxin essays. He died in 2011, and a year later, "Literary Memoirs" became a cross-strait bestseller. Four years later, the Wuzhen Muxin Art Museum opened.
Muxin Art Museum
"Human nature, if you look closely, you can't see clearly, you can see clearly from a distance." In all the ways of the world, Shakespeare retreated very openly. The one who retreats the farthest and most open is God. Mu Xin admired Shakespeare very much, and loved his Hamlet the most, in his opinion, "Shakespeare is the second only person to God." Tang Xianzu, on the other hand, is "quite readable in Jianzha." If Tang Xianzu is a literary genius created in the literati culture of scholars, and Shakespeare is a great writer who shows the different faces of all classes of British society in the process of the initial development of civil society, then, in the era of rigidity, Mu Xin became a declining aristocrat, but his own knowledge and knowledge, for readers who have few contemporary aristocratic spirits, there are several gaps in the middle.
Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu have been dead for four hundred years, and Mu Xin has been dead for nearly five years, perhaps at this time seriously thinking about how to look at the treasures of culture and tradition, and nothing has been left behind.
(Photo courtesy of Muxin Art Museum)
Author: Zou Ping
Editor: Zhang Limin
Rest assured to collect, witness globally, scan the code and send it immediately