Twitter Highlights: The Fragrant Companion
In this instalment of the very occasional series 'sapphic elements in Chinese opera', we have 'The Fragrant Companion' (怜香伴), a play written in 1651 by noted playwright and novelist Li Yu (李漁) pic.twitter.com/YCtHczMnE6
— douqi (@DouQi7s) April 11, 2021
The play is about the romance between Cui Jianyun (崔笺云), new wife of a renowned scholar, and Cao Yuhua (曹语花), who meet at a temple and fall in love. Cui Jianyun is enamoured of Cao Yuhua's extraordinary fragrance, Cao Yuhua of Cui Jianyun's gift for poetry
— douqi (@DouQi7s) April 11, 2021
In order for them to be together, Cui Jianyun arranges for her husband to take Cao Yuhua as a concubine, which, after many twists and turns, finally happens. The two of them live together happily ever after (or at least as happily as possible in a patriarchal society)
— douqi (@DouQi7s) April 11, 2021
The play has been compiled into both Kun opera and Beijing opera. In the Beijing opera version, Cao Yuhua marries Cui Jianyun's brother (instead of husband)
— douqi (@DouQi7s) April 11, 2021
Previously, on sapphic element in Chinese opera: https://t.co/3nz3rthXPD
Anyway, speaking of 'The Fragrant Companion', I'm pretty sure I've found the contemporary douyin interpretation of this story
— douqi (@DouQi7s) April 11, 2021
🔗 full video: https://t.co/A3jMDC3DQy
Actors: 愛野超有味−, 慕子枭, 天阳 https://t.co/VLcUy6nTp7 pic.twitter.com/UmcVpKKS1V
The REAL sharing of the nuptial cup
— douqi (@DouQi7s) April 11, 2021
🔗 full video: https://t.co/oYIUcnFx8F
Actors: 愛野超有味−, 慕子枭 pic.twitter.com/Vr9IOPhNz2