The Peony Pavilion (simplified Chinese: 牡丹亭; traditional Chinese: 牡丹亭; pinyin: mǔdāntíng) is a play written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty and first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. One of Tang's "Four Dreams", it has traditionally been performed as a Kunqu (昆曲/崑曲) opera, but Chuan (川) and Gan (赣/贛) opera versions also exist. It is by far the most popular play of the Ming Dynasty, and is the primary showcase of the guimendan (闺门旦/閨門旦) role type. All Kun theatre troupes include it in their repertoire. Recent adaptations have sought to inject new life into one of China's best-loved classical operas, though such efforts have met with opposition from the Kun opera traditionalists.

Recent adaptations of The Peony Pavilion and allusions in popular music have revived interest in Kunqu, an art form that had been in danger of disappearing into obscurity. In 2001, UNESCO proclaimed Kunqu as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity," yet the secrets of that heritage were kept by only a few aging masters in even fewer schools and institutions. Bai Xianyong's adaptation of The Peony Pavilion that premiered in 2004 helped rejuvenate this tradition. Bai, a Chinese scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his colleagues - scholars and performers, some brought back from retirement - spend five months editing Tang's script.

Now you see in these photos are about one dancing version of the "The Peony Pavilion" and performed by PLA Front-line Art Troupe. The main female role in this Chinese traditional pantomime Du Liniang is performed by Hu Qinxin (胡琴心), a well-known dancer in PLA.

I have to say, it is splendid!

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