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“Double Suicide” from “The Flower Princess”

Synopsis of “The Flower Princess” *

Towards the end of the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor of the Ming dynasty, internal turmoil and external threats abound. Princess Changping, arrogant and proud of her talent, has not yet found herself an acceptable husband. Minister Zhou Zhong introduces Shixian to the princess. Being able to move the princess's heart with his eloquence and earnestness, Shixian gains the emperor's permission for marrying the princess. However, the capital falls to the rebels before their wedding day. Fearing the fate of his harem, the emperor puts his wives to death and injures Changping with his sword. Zhou Zhong rescues Changpingand she recovers under his care. However, Zhou Zhong and his son Bao Lun plot to turn the princess over to the emperor of the Qing dynasty in exchange for official rank and wealth.

Knowing the plot, the daughter of Zhou Zhong helps move Changping to Weimo Nunnery to live in seclusion. A year later, Shixian comes across the princess outside the nunnery, but the princess now turned nun refrains from admitting to their acquaintance until Shixian threatens suicide. Shixian suggests a feigned surrender to the Qing emperor. In tears, the princess writes a letter to the Qing emperor, asking him to give her father Chongzhen Emperor a decent burial and releases her brother, the crown prince.

The Qing emperor is compelled to keep his promise in order to pacify the ministers of the former dynasty. Finally, the princess and Shixian perform the wedding ritual beside a camphor tree. Then, they both take poison and die for their country. Choral music is heard from heaven, to which the mystical couple returns. Overwhelmed by shame, Zhou Zhong and Bao Lun ask for permission to resign and return to their hometown.

Introduction of “Double Suicide”

This is the seventh and the last scene of “The Flower Princess”. Princess Cheungping and Saihin commit suicide by drinking toxic wine during their wedding night. The scene starts with a sibaak introducing the context and the thoughts of the roles, follows by a fixed tune titled “Autumnal Thoughts by the Dressing Table” illustrating the plight.


Excerpt :

“Double Suicide” from “The Flower Princess

Yaumati Theatre ( 11 July 2015 )

Artistic Consultant : Mr. Li Chi-kei, Danny

Casting :
Lau Yu-feng as Chow Saihin
Wong Hai-wing as Princess Cheungping

* Source from: Cantonese Opera Research Programme , The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Roles in the excerpt

Chow Saihin
Chow Saihin
Chow Saihin is appointed as husband of
Princess Cheungping by the Emperor
Chongzhen of Ming Dynasty. He is a
courageous intellectual with a loyal
heart. He suggests to Cheungping that
they should accept Qing Emperor’s
suggestion to reunion in the Qing Dynasty
with the conditions of releasing the Ming
princess and burying Emperor Chongzhen.
Cheungping
Princess Cheungping
Princess Cheungping is the elder princess
of the Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming
Dynasty.She is smart and clever,unyielding
when facing difficult situations. After the
fall of Ming Dynasty,the Qing emperor
tries to re-match the princess and Saihin
and return to the palace,his purpose is
amnesty. Princess Cheungping dares to
challenge the Qing emperor and ask for
releasing the Prince of Ming Dynasty and
to bury Emperor Chongzhen,and plan to
commits suicide with Saihin during the
wedding night.

Introduction to selected music and speeches used

Fixed tune: “Autumnal Thoughts by the Dressing Table”

This is a fixed tune which comes from a pipa solo piece titled “On the way to the West”. This piece is in faansin, which is close to the modern G major key but ending with a la. The rhythm is in 4, which is known as maanbaan with the first beat by the drum and three beats on the double bells.

Sibaak

Sibaak, literally poetic speech, refers to a speech type of Cantonese opera in which there are normally four verses with five or seven words each. The last words of second and fourth verses must be in rhyme. This is the authentic Chinese poem format since the Tang Dynasty.

The Flower Princess
By Tong Dik Sang , translated by Bell Yung

Act VII : Double Suicide

(The Moon Bright Palace and imperial garden outside. SAIHIN and CHEUNGPING perform their wedding ceremony inside, by holding each end of the wedding sash and kowtowing to Heaven and Earth. They then step out into the garden, with ladies-in-waiting standing on both sides.)

CHEUNGPING (greatly saddened upon seeing the garden).

[Sibaak]

By the palace is the strange and sinister double tree.

SAIHIN.

[continues]

Ten thousand bright pearls glitter in gold among the flowers.

CHEUNGPING (weeps).

[continues]

What a grievous wedding night.

SAIHIN

[continues]

No need for ladies-in-waiting by our side.

(Ladies-in-waiting exit on two sides. A shower of peals falls from the canopy of flowers. CHEUNGPING lights incense.)

CHEUNGPING.

[“Autumnal Thoughts by the Dressing Table”]

A shower of petals fills the air and obscures the moonlights,

I borrow a cup to anoint the Phoenix Terrace.

The tearful Flower Princess lights a stick of incense, (Kneels in obeisance.)

Wishing to die to repay my parents.

I steal a glance, I steal a look,

He quietly weeps in grief.

Now I am suddenly half-frightened:

I fear that the Fu ma may care too much for this match,

And may not be willing to sacrifice our love and accompany me to the underworld.

SAIHIN.

[continues]

My heart yearns for us to be buried together,

Like mandarin ducks, hugging and cuddling,

We’ll build a new wedding chamber in the world beyond;

Down in the underworld we shall find a home for ourselves. (Takes out arsenic.)

CHEUNGPING.

[continues]

Ai! He cares for me and is willing to die with me.

On this wedding night,

The Fu Ma will even drink arsenic with me.

SAIHIN.

[continues]

I grieve for the tragedy that has befallen our land;

I am moved by the Late Emperor’s ten-thousandfold favor.

My wife and I together pray for your well-being. (They both kneel.)

CHEUNGPING (weeps).

[continues]

Ai! I longed for this wedding night so that we could grow old together.

Who knew that the wedding candles would turn to waves of blood.

I have wronged you, entangling you in this net of ill fortune.

Let us fulfill our vow and bow deeply before the wedding candles.

Then we shall drink from the marriage cup, and enter our tomb as our wedding chamber.

Your altar tablet, carved with an ode in your praise, will last for a thousand years.

(CHEUNGPING and SAIHIN once more kneel and pay obeisance to the wedding candles. They use the willow branches as the canopy of their wedding bed. CHEUNGPING puts on her wedding veil herself.)

SAIHIN.

[continues]

We use the willow tree as our hibiscus canopy;

The Ming dynasty Fu Ma looks at his bride. (Lifting her veil.)

In the middle of the night shall I adjust the lamp,

To take a peek at your face.

CHEUNGPING.

[continues]

Until the earth turns old and the sky becomes barren, the loving phoenix will remain with her doting mate.

I am ready to bow together with my husband, holding aloft our wine-cups.

SAIHIN.

[continues]

I accept the golden goblet, lightly tasting and slowly swallowing,

With tears I place arsenic in the wine.

CHEUNGPING.

[continues]

Embracing, we surrender to intoxicating dreams. (They clink their goblets.)

SAIHIN.

[continues]

We clink our goblets and enter eternal night.

CHEUNGPING.

[continues]

A crown of flowers shall ornament me for burial. (They drink and empty the goblets.)

SAIHIN.

[continues]

My helmet will be stored inside the tomb.

CHEUNGPING.

[continues]

Embracing one another,

SAIHIN.

[continues]

Cuddling together,

BOTH.

[continues]

The two trunks of the tree

Are filled with the fragrance of the Flower Princess.

SAIHIN.

[continues]

The Flower Princess CHEUNGPING.

[continues]

Forever by the side of her love.

BOTH.

[continues]

Husband and wife die,

Together like the trunks of this tree.

“The End”

* Source from: The Chinese University Press