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| ▲ Photographed by Choi Ji Won |
Surrounded by the darkness that covers the whole theater, one holds a puppet and busily moves behind a stage. As a light is shot on the white curtain, the puppets reveal their shapes and colors in shadow to the audience; and then, the story goes on. This is what happens on the stage of Piying, a Chinese shadow puppetry. Though primarily made for plays, these puppets of Piying are renowned as an exquisite craft for their great delicacy and beauty as well. For the first time in Korea, 45 pieces of Piying, on loan from the National Museum of China, are introduced at Hongik University Daehak-ro Art Center, entitled Piying, Shadow Play.
Entering a gate of the exhibition hall, one feels how it is like being in the theater of shadow puppetry where all the walls, ceiling, and floors are black. Videos on the wall of an actual play and the simple explanation about Piying first welcome visitors and let them fall into the world of shadow play. As one steps into the three main parts of exhibition, music from the video follows them, allows visitors to hold scenes of the shadow play, and continues until the end of the exhibit.
The first theme of the exhibition is “History of the Three Kingdoms”, also known as Samgukji that has been venerated as the essence of Chinese classical literature. The very first piece of this theme portrays the story of a famous four-character-idiom, Sam-go-cho-reyo (三顧草廬) which means one should extend to the talented every courtesy in order to make him or her be on his or her side. This first piece also represents the key message of “History of the Three Kingdoms” that only highly virtuous rulers can earn the trust of people. (Refer to Box 1)
Another notable piece describes the scene where Bao Zheng punishes corrupt politicians, a famous judge whose strict and impartial ruling has been greatly praised by many Chinese for a long time. In this piece, the usage of black color is remarkable in comparison with other pieces where use of black is limited. This black color symbolizes the strong principle and integral personality of the famous judge of the era. (Refer to Box 1)
“The Romance of the Western Chamber”, called Seosanggi in Korean, which is the beautiful and captivating love story, is the second theme of this exhibition. Whereas the first part of the exhibition is focused on the pieces that well describe the virtue of humanity, loyalty, and wisdom, the second part of the exhibition portrays the daily lives of Chinese people and their lifestyles in the late 13th century. In this part of the exhibition, elaborate works in details, such as flowers and costumes, are outstanding. (Refer to Box 2)
The pieces of “Journey to the West”, known as Seoyougi in Korean, compose the third theme of the exhibition. The pieces of the third theme are notable in a detailed character description and portrayal of the folk religion of China in the 16th century. Through the piece that describes the troop which fights against the Great Jade Emperor, the ruler of Heaven, one can get a sense of a great store of the Chinese people’s imagination. Also, another piece, named “Mt. Huaguoshan”, gives a blow-by-blow description of the birth of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. (Refer to Box 3)
Yet, in contrast to the delicacy of the works of the exhibition, the organizers should have had careful concern. From the pamphlet of the exhibition to the Internet website of it, they emphasize that this exhibition is composed of three parts with respective themes, which shows three different aspects of China. Nonetheless, when one goes to the exhibition, it is fairly challenging to distinguish precisely where one theme ends and another begins, since there is neither clear distinction, nor any indication. Moreover, the explanations of each piece is almost unreadable because it is located outside of the light and when considering the fact the whole exhibition center is in black, this gives frustration to the visitors who want to read further information of each piece.
Still, this exhibition, Piying: Shadow Play, gives an opportunity to experience the sophisticated arts of China and learn life lessons from the classic stories of China. Starting by giving video footage of a traditional shadow play, this exhibition gives visitors a chance to minutely look into the pieces of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizations) Intangible Cultural heritage, and also a chance to make a play behind the curtain at the end of the exhibition.
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| ▲ Sam-go-cho-ryeo. Liu Bei is talking with Zhuge Liang. Made of cattle skin.Provided by Covana Contents. |
Box 1)
Story of Sam-Go-Cho-Ryeo: Visit the Cottage Three Times.
Liu Bei, a founder and the first ruler of the state of Shu Han, was chased by the ruler of the Easter Han Dynasty due to an absence of great strategist. While he was on the run, he was advised to find the Zhuge Liang. Therefore, Liu visited the thatched house of Zhuge for two times, but there was no one. Only on the third visit and after he waited for Zhuge Liang to wake up from his nap, could Liu Bei turn this genius military strategist over to his side.
Justice Judge, Bao Zheng, Executes the King’s Son-in-law.
Chen Shimei married the princess after he passed an imperial examination, deceiving that he had a wife, Qin Xianglian, and two kids in his hometown. Years later, when Qin came to Chen for help from the famine, he not only rejected it, but sent a servant to kill them to keep the secret. Yet, the servant helped Quin escape, touched by her kindness. When Qin went to Bao Zheng with the case, he sentenced Chen to death despite royal threats.
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| ▲ The Romance of the Western Chamber. Made of cattle skin.Provided by Covana Contents |
Box 2)
Love That Surpassed the Class Barrier
A young scholar, Zhang Sheng, went to the capital to take the imperial examination and met Cui Yingying, the daughter of the Prime Minister in a temple where Yingying and her mother took a rest in the middle of the journey to escort her father’s coffin to hometown. They fell in love in first sight, but the watchful eyes of Yingying’s mother frustrated them. Meanwhile, a band of thieves heard of Yingying’s beauty and abducted her. Her mother said that whoever saves Yingying can marry her, but she broke her word when poor Zhang Sheng made it. Nevertheless, Zhang Sheng and Yingying won through the difficulties and finally married each other.
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| ▲ Monkey King, Sun, causes havoc in the heaven with his troop. Made ofcattle skin. Provided by Covana Contents |
Box 3)
The Birth of Monkey King
Born with great power and speed, Sun Wukong was admired by the fellow monkeys who lived in the mountain of flowers and fruits, “Mt. Huaguoshan.” However, being a king among monkeys could not satisfy Sun; therefore, he left his kingdom and had a journey to develop his magical skills and ability to speak the human language. After he gained the powerful weapon, Sun was eaten up with conceit that he dared to rebel against the Great Jade Emperor and Buddha. Being punished by them, Sun was imprisoned for five centuries until the monk Xuanzang freed him. After that, Sun become the disciple of Xuanzang and made a journey west to retrieve the trust of Buddha.
Days May 4, 2013 ~ June 30, 2013
Hours 10:00 A.M. ~ 18:00 P.M.
Closed on Monday
Admission Fee Adults 10,000 won
Students 8,000 won
