Xiqu

MULIAN OPERA EXCERPTS:
Five Celestials Pacifying the Land

Chang is one of the important deities in folk belief in the Jiangnan region and is usually in group of five. There is a saying that goes, “The upper five are the nation, the middle five are the masses and the lower five are the ruffians.” The Ritual Mulian piece is about the upper five which are gods of mountain beasts capable of keeping the land safe from their attacks. This excerpt is the opening item for Mulian opera where the five celestials are invited to expel the evil beasts and pacify the land.

Esquire Fu Gives Alms

This excerpt tells of the story about the rich and kind philanthropist, Esquire Fu, who gives alms to the poor and needy every year and is thus deeply loved and respected by the people.

Liu Breaks the Meat Fast

Since Esquire Fu’s wife Liu is unwilling to be a vegetarian and coupled with the servant’s instigation, the celestials are disturbed. They disguise as mortals to come to test Liu, but Liu refuses to listen and continues to indulge in wine and meat and hence offends the celestials.

The Kitchen God, Land God and Door God Meet

Knowing about Liu’s misdemeanors of eating meat and beating monks, the three deities Kitchen God, Land God and Door God decide to report the matter to the celestial court to have Liu arrested.

Messengers of Death Coming for Liu

The King of Hell issues an order for the arrest of Liu and sends the messenger of death to call upon all lonely ghosts to go capture Liu and bring her to the netherworld.

Buddhist Scriptures and the Picture of His Mother on His Shoulder

Esquire Fu’s son Luobu decides to convert to Buddhism after learning his mother has been captured and is suffering in hell. With Buddhist scriptures on one shoulder and his mother’s ashes and portrait on the other shoulder, Luobu journeys to the west trying to rescue his mother while chanting desolately on the way. Touched by his filial act, the Bodhisattva of Compassion sends the monkey genie to help him.

Mulian in Transcendental Meditation

Mulian meets his master, the old monk in the west. At night, he sits in meditation chanting Buddhist sutras and visualizes his parents; his father Esquire Fu is enjoying happily in heaven while his mother is suffering painfully in hell.

Reunion in the Sixth Level of Hell

Mulian searches at length and at the Sixth Level of Hell finally reunites with his mother. Laden with sins, his mother suffers a lot in Hell and on seeing his son, she pours out her heart to him.