Compiled from the Performing Arts programmes* and Visual Arts exhibition records from HKADC’s Arts Yearbooks and Annual Arts Survey projects dating from 2010.

Romance in the Court

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Princess Lam Tsun has stayed in the palace for five years after her husband was summoned to the border on the wedding night, she has been then treated poorly as a widow who brings the palace bad luck. One day, Wong Zou meets Lam Tsun in the palace and they fall in love due to each other’s talent. The Crown Prince helps bringing their marriage to come true. Unexpectedly, Lam Tsun’s husband, Chiu Fai, is back in the town and mistaken himself the groom in the coming wedding. Found that Lam Tsun is going to remarry with Zou, Chiu Fai makes up that he has married another woman even he is still into Lam Tsun.

When Lam Tsun returns the engagement pledge to Chui Fai, she discovers that Chu Fai’s fabricated wife and it was made up just for Lam Tsun’s marriage with Zou. Their meet up is encountered and mistaken as a tryst by envious Wong Zou. Drowning in sadness and jealousy, Zou paralyses himself with alcohol. Chui Kiu seizes this chance to seduce Zou. Lam Tsun is shocked when she finds out her beloved husband has betrayed her. The scandal is then disclosed when the new Emperor conferring title to Chui Kiu. Both Wong Zou and Chui Kiu are put into prison and sentenced to death. Chiu Fai saves Zou from execution secretly. Later, Zou disguises as a maid who assists Lam Tsun to labour. While Wong Zou wants to reunite with Lam Tsun and their new born, the Emperor comes to comfort Lam Tsun by allowing her to bring her husband’s corpse from the hometown, Dingto, after Queen Dowager is dead. Lam Tsun travels to Zou’s hometown with Chiu Fai for sacrifice offering and finds out Zou is still alive. Lam Tsun decides to stay with Zou and not back to palace, thus she orders Chiu Fai to convey her stay in Dingto for the rest of her life to the Emperor.

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Tomb of the Fragrant Gown

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Chiu Si Chun, a suspicious and jealous general, marries Lam Yu Heung, who is from a bordello. Because their son Hei Long has dropped a sash of Yu Heung’s underclothes at his tutor Luk Sai Fo’s room, Si Chun misunderstands that Yu Heung and Sai Fo have an affair. He realizes his mistakes only after Sai Fo leaves with a letter. Si Chun keeps Yu Heung’s sash with him in order to remember his wife’s virtuousness. At a scam-inn, Si Chun kills a robber by cutting his head off, and covers the body with his clothes and ties it up with the sash. Everybody thinks that Si Chun is killed.

The Huaiyang county magistrate accuses Yu Heung and Chiu Kan of adultery and murder because Qin is holding Yu Heung who tries to hang herself when the constables arrive. Saam Neung, foster mother of Yu Heung, takes Hei Long to the court to tell their grievances. Unexpectedly, the judge turns out to be Fai Fo who believes Yu Heung is lascivious and sentences her to death. But, out of gratitude, he sets off for his new post with Hei Long and has his newly-wed wife Chun Lai Mui taking care of him.

Later, Si Chun returns in honour and reunites with Hei Long. Shocked by the death of Yu Heung, he decides to go home to mourn at her tomb. In disguise of a ghost, Yu Heung reprimands him and then tells how she escaped in disguise of a deceased prisoner with the help of jailor Chai Chuen. Finally, Si Chun and Yu Heung are reconciled and reunite with Hei Long.

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Full Moon over Grand Reaml

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Since losing contact with her husband, Ngai Hei Yin, Tong Tze Heung has been residing with her brother King Wai at Fong Yan Kit’s home. King Wai is suspected of participating in the resistance effort against the Mongols, and is under investigation from none other than Tong’s own husband, Ngai. Re-united by chance after a long separation, Ngai wishes to rekindle their relationship, and so issues a pass for her. Aided by Siu Kuen and her brother, Lik Hang, King Wai are able to intercept key intelligence. In the process, Tze Heung learns that her husband has turned traitor and become betrothed to the daughter of General Temur.

The intelligence, as it turns out, was actually disinformation sowed as a ruse to uncover resistance personnel. As a result, Siu Kuen and King Wai are rooted out and put under interrogation and torture. Tze Heung ventures into the command post and, employing considerable wit, forces her husband to release the hostages. The group then keeps a low profile, living in a poor village and plotting what is to become the Mid-Autumn Insurrection. Under the command of Yan Kit, and with encouragement from Tze Heung, King Wai sends the signal for the army to crush the Mongols. During the raid, Ngai succumbs to a mortal wound.

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Power and Dilemma

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After her father’s death, Chiu Hoi Tong has been residing with Ga family along with her step-mother Chiu Yi Neung and half-brother Maan Cheung. Hoi Tong falls in love with the warrior, Kim Wah, who works for Prime minister Ga Yi Yan. However, Yi Neung marries Hoi Tong to Mau Cheong, the son of Prime minister Ga, for Maan Cheung’s good. Kim Wah makes up his affection towards Yu Chun which convinces Hoi Tong to agree her marriage with Mau Cheung. On the wedding night, Dai Sang and Kim Wah are summoned to fight with the Huns. Maan Cheung ignores Yi Neung’s objection and insists to follow the troop.

In the battlefield, Kim Wah, Dai Sang and Maan Cheung assist the Marshal Chiu Cheong Mau and defeat the Huns. Capturing the generals of the Huns, Cheong Mau discovers the betrayal of Yi Yan. Cheong Mau then orders Kim Wah and Maan Cheung heading to the Ga’s mansion for further evidence. During Kim Wah and Maan Cheung’s absence, Cheong Mau discloses to Dai Sang that Yi Yan and the Chiu couples were the murderers of Dai Sang’s own parents. Shocked and infuriated by the news, Dai Sang leads his army to condemn Yi Yan and Yi Neung.

Kim Wah plans to flee with Hoi Tong before the arrival of Dai Sang’s army. Yet, Hoi Tong refuses Kim Wah with her dignity. The whole Ga family and Yi Neung are then arrested by Dai Sang. Yi Yan suicides to escape from the judgement. In the execution field, Maan Cheung believes in his mother’s innocence and challenges Dai Sang until Yi Neung’s confession on her crime. Dai Sang is in the dilemma under Kim Wah’s mitigation. In the meantime, Cheong Mau arrives to release the Ga family and sentence Yi Neung under the Emperor’s order. Upon the release, Mau Cheong tells Kim Wah that he and Hoi Tong are couple for show. He suggests to divorce with Hoi Tong and let her reunite with Kim Wah.

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The Marshal’s Marriage

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Since Kingdom of Song is weak, Princess Choi Fung proposes to her father to invite all princes of neighboring kingdoms to host a contest for her, so that Song can joint force with another country through political marriage. At the end, she falls in love with Koi Sai Ying, the general commander-in-chief from the Kingdom of Choi. On the wedding day, the proud Princess refuses to get on with the journey to the Kingdom of Choi. Sai Ying is furious and he stroke the military drums to urge her. Finally King Chong of Song has to settle the incident. Lam Fung Yi is jealous of the Princess, so she provokes Sai Ying’s aunt, Ngo Mei, causing conflict between the mother and daughter-in-law. Sai Ying asks the Princess to yield to his aunt. Hon Mo Dik and Chiu Mo Wei are upset at the Princess’ refusal so they join forces to invade the Kingdom of Choi. Sai Ying is defeated but the Princess uses her wits to save him and incites mistrust between Hon and Chiu. Since Sai Ying is defeated, Ngo Mei worries so much for his life. So, Ngo Mei forces him to apologize to the Princess and seek help from her. However, Sai Ying refuses to do so, but with the imploration from Ngo Mei, Choi Fung then agrees to ask for reinforcements from the Kingdom of Song, assisting her husband to fight Hon and Chiu. The two princes of Hon and Chiu are tricked by the Princess and begin to suspect each other. Finally, both Hon and Chiu are severely defeated and beg for a peace treaty. Choi Fung and Sai Ying win a victorious battle.

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The Story of Horse Selling

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Discovered their stepmother Saam Chun’s affair with Tin Wong, Li Kwai Zi and her younger brother Bo Tung must escape. Kwai Zi’s father Li Ki, a horse merchant, comes home and asks the maid Chun Fa for where his children are, but is unable to tell so because of the order from Saam Chun. With the guilt she can’t bear, she escapes it all with a rope on roof. The two involved in the affair seize the opportunity to accuse Li Ki of attempting to rape Chun Fa which causes her death. They even bribe the county magistrate to sentence Li Ki to death.

On the other hand, Kwai Zi is adopted by the Lau’s family. Later on, she marries the magistrate of Baocheng County, Chiu Chung, whose sister Lin Chu looks the same as Chun Fa. Lin Chu hears Li Ki crying in the prison and notifies Kwai Zi of it. She then finds out the false accusation on her father, she mourns it to her husband Chiu Chung. Chung prepares the petition for her in no time, calling for the inspector general on the court.

The inspector general turns out to be Kwai Zi’s brother Bo Tung. With Lin Chu disguises as Chun Fa’s ghost, she succeeds in frightening the two into admitting their crime. Finally, not only the father’s innocence is proven, Li’s family are also happily reunited with Bo Tung marrying Lin Chu.

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Formulaic Plays Excerpts: Insulting Chow Yu Thrice & Fifteen Strings of Copper Coins

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Insulting Chow Yu Thrice

In the days of the Three Kingdoms era, the state of Shu has been a headache for the state of Dong Wu. Chow Yu launches troop onward to Xichuan, in order to mask his real intention of attacking Jingzhou which is controlled by Lau Bei. It turns out it is a plan too obvious for Chukeh, he hides Shu’s force all along Chiu Wan’s path. This perfect ambush deals a serious blow to Chow Yu’s troops and Chow Yu himself.

Chow Yu gave all he got to take Jingzhou, but all he gets are failure and stagnation. The anger and regret finally overwhelm him making him gravely ill. He even got a letter from Chukeh taunting his incapability. In with a fury he could withstands no more, he shouts out his regrets while splitting a pile of blood. He then writes his last words before he dies with regrets and frustrations.

Fifteen Strings of Copper Coins

Butcher Yau Wu Lo borrows fifteen strings of copper coins from his wife’s sister. Half-drunk, he plays a joke on his stepdaughter, So Sue Kuen, by saying that he has sold her for the money, and then falls asleep. In despair, Sue Kuen leaves home to seek help from her aunt. On that night hooligan Lou A-Shu breaks into the house, steals the copper coins and kills the Butcher. Sue Kuen, who is away, becomes the suspect.

Constable Ha spots Sue Kuen is in a company of the merchant Hung Yau Lan. Constable Xia thinks the two are trying to elope and finds exactly fifteen strings of coins on Yau Lan. After being taken to the government office, the two confess unconsciously under torture and are sentenced to death. District Magistrate Fong Chung is assigned to supervise the execution. Hearing Sue Kuen and Yau Lan’s cries of innocence, Chung reopens the investigation.

After an investigation into the crime, Chung believes that Ah Su is the real criminal. Disguised as a fortune-teller, Chung makes Ah Su to reveal the whole story. Sending his men after Ah Su to obtain evidence, Chung retries the defendants and reveals the truth. Ah Su admits his guilt、 Sue Kuen and Yau Lan regain freedom eventually.

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The Double-pearl Phoenix

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Scholar Man Bit Zing encounters Fok Ding Kam, daughter of high official Minister Fok, at a nunnery. He finds her double-pearl phoenix hairpin and pretends to be a fortune teller to meet her. Finally, he sells himself as a servant to the Fok family. Ding Hon Sheung, the Prince’s adopted son, has no real talents but he wishes to marry Ding Kam. During the Prince’s birthday banquet, Bit Zing exposes his lack of abilities and embarrasses him. Bit Zing brings flowers to Ding Kam’s chamber, and Chau Wah makes Bit Zing promised to adopt her as his sister before he could see his love. He then leaves for the civil examination.

Upon learning the news of her marriage to Hon Sheung, Ding Kam sets fire to the chamber and runs away. Ding Kam and Chau Wah becomes homeless in the capital and luckily, the old Prime Minister Chau Wa adopts Ding Kam as his own daughter. The emperor reads the “Imperial Prayer to Heaven” written by Ding Kam, and is so impressed he makes her a princess. Bit Zing wins the champion scholar title but he refuses to marry the princess. During the feast, he realizes the princess is his lover Ding Kam, but Hon Sheung also tries to make his claim. To settle the matter, Bit Zing marries his adopted sister, Chau Wah, to Hon Sheung.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the stand of the Council.

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