The Legend of the Red Lantern
Encyclopedia
The Legend of the Red Lantern is one of the Eight model plays, the only operas and ballets permitted during the Cultural Revolution
in China
. The official version was that of a Beijing Opera
. It was additionally adapted to a piano-accompanied cantata
by pianist Yin Chengzong
, formed by a cycle of arias extracted from the opera itself.
According to Lu Xing, all of the model operas are permeated with hatred, specifically, directed towards 'class enemies', who were cast as 'cruel', 'oppressive', and 'evil'.
The play is based on a movie titled There Will be Followers (自有后来人) made in 1963, which is based a novel titled There Will be Followers of Revolution (革命自有后来人) by Qian Daoyuan (钱道源) first published in 1958. The novel in turn, is based on a true story of communist undercover agents working at a Huicui (辉崔) railway station in Hulin
fighting the Japanese invaders during the Second Sino-Japanese War
.
When Li Yuhe, a railroad worker who was engaging in underground work, was taken away by special agents and Grandma Li has a premonition of being arrested, Grandma tells the protagonist, Li Tiemei the true story about her family. Grandma Li tells Li Tiemei how her parents have sacrificed their lives in the revolutionary struggle. Li Yuhe has taken up the unfulfilled task of the martyrs. After hearing the heroic story about her family, Li Tiemei is determined to follow the example of her father and carry the revolution through to the end.
All three of the young women protagonists in the story express "extreme anger and hatred toward their enemies," according to Lu Xing's analysis, along with "a fierce determination to join the revolutionary force." These emotions intensified through the course of the opera as the music and singing became more and more passionate.
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The official version was that of a Beijing Opera
Beijing opera
Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court...
. It was additionally adapted to a piano-accompanied cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
by pianist Yin Chengzong
Yin Chengzong
Yin Chengzong is a Chinese pianist and composer.-Biography:Born on the "Piano Island" of Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Fujian, in the People's Republic of China...
, formed by a cycle of arias extracted from the opera itself.
According to Lu Xing, all of the model operas are permeated with hatred, specifically, directed towards 'class enemies', who were cast as 'cruel', 'oppressive', and 'evil'.
The play is based on a movie titled There Will be Followers (自有后来人) made in 1963, which is based a novel titled There Will be Followers of Revolution (革命自有后来人) by Qian Daoyuan (钱道源) first published in 1958. The novel in turn, is based on a true story of communist undercover agents working at a Huicui (辉崔) railway station in Hulin
Hulin
Hulin is a city on the Muling River in southeastern Heilongjiang province, Northeast China. With a population of around 200,000, it is under the administration of Jixi. Nearby are Khanka Lake, to the southwest, the Usuri River, which forms the Russian border to the east...
fighting the Japanese invaders during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
.
Summary
The play concentrated on the exploits of the communist underground activities under Japanese occupation in 1939, though history traces back in the 1920s.When Li Yuhe, a railroad worker who was engaging in underground work, was taken away by special agents and Grandma Li has a premonition of being arrested, Grandma tells the protagonist, Li Tiemei the true story about her family. Grandma Li tells Li Tiemei how her parents have sacrificed their lives in the revolutionary struggle. Li Yuhe has taken up the unfulfilled task of the martyrs. After hearing the heroic story about her family, Li Tiemei is determined to follow the example of her father and carry the revolution through to the end.
All three of the young women protagonists in the story express "extreme anger and hatred toward their enemies," according to Lu Xing's analysis, along with "a fierce determination to join the revolutionary force." These emotions intensified through the course of the opera as the music and singing became more and more passionate.