Chinese Clay Sculpture The Drunken Beauty

The Drunken Beauty is a famous Peking opera performed by Mei Langfang. When Mei Lanfang performed in this opera in the United States in the 1930s, his portrayal of the gestures and attitudes of the drunken concubine was so superbly convincing that it literally surpassed description, and was widely acclaimed by audiences and theater critics.

The Drunken Beauty refers to Yang Yuhuan. This Opera recounts the story of how Yang waited in the One Hundred Flower Pavilion for the emperor to arrive in order to drink with him.

[The Story]

The story happened in Tang Dynasty around 745-755 AD in China. Yang Yuhuan was originally the consort of Prince Shou, a son of the Tang Emperor Minghuang. Emperor Minghuang discovered her beauty and first had her made a Taoist priestess and then afterwards took her into the palace to be the highest ranking imperial concubine, his favorite among 3,000. From that moment on they are always together, soaking in hot springs, feasting and drinking on balmy spring nights, viewing flowers and listening to music, and singing and dancing.

One day, Tang Minghuang remembers the Plum Concubine, another Concubine of him, whom he has neglected for so long. He decides on the spot to go spend the night with her. Yang Yuhuan, unaware, sets out a feast of wine and delicacies in Hundred Flower Pavilion, and prepares to spend yet another night of pleasure with the Emperor. When the hours go by and the Emperor does not arrive, Yang Yuhuan realizes that there must be another woman in his heart. Assailed with a wave of bitter pain and resentment, she starts to drink alone, attempting to drown her sorrows while reflecting upon the transience of life and the unreliability of a man's heart. The more she drinks, the lower her spirits fall, until finally she is overcome by the wine and becomes totally inebriated. Gao Lishi, waiting by her side, attempts to console her, deeply sympathetic to this lonely, abandoned Imperial concubine. Yang Yuhuan waits until the moon sinks in the west and the stars fade, but the Emperor never comes. Finally she was supported home, drunk, staggering, and alone.

Top quality Chinese artworks, a nice collection and good gift for your friends. Free Shipping Worldwide!