The work draws inspiration from classic imagery of artifacts such as the Warring States period painted lacquer box depicting a chariot and horse procession with human figures and Han Dynasty pictorial bricks, capturing their rustic and ancient charm. It adopts imagistic and symbolic dance language to revive the essence of ancient Chinese rites, music, and humanistic spirit. Following the structural framework of Mei Cheng's fu composition The Seven Stimuli, it is divided into seven segments: Pure Sounds, Exquisite Delicacies, Chariot Procession, Luxuriant Growth, Hunting Expedition, Gazing upon the Waves, and Upholding Ritual. The performance endeavors to embody profound norms of li (ritual propriety) in traditional Chinese culture, both artistically reviving traditional forms of rites and music and expressing contemporary reflections on classical themes. Using form to express meaning and dance to embody ritual, it rejects flamboyance in favor of moral integrity and strength, highlighting the profound heritage and enduring vitality of China, a land of time-honored etiquette.

 

Long Full-Body Garment
The Long Full-Body Garment, a popular attire during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, features an upper garment and lower skirt seamlessly joined as one piece, with edges trimmed in vividly colored fabric. Its design embodies Confucian moral symbolism: the round cuffs, resembling a compass, symbolize propriety in all movements; the square collar, like a carpenter’s square, represents moral rectitude; the straight back seam, as straight as a plumb line, signifies integrity in human conduct; and the union of upper and lower garments embodies the duality of yin and yang.

 

Seven Stimuli
"Qi Fa" (Seven Stimuli), a classic fu (rhapsody) by Mei Cheng of the Western Han Dynasty, pioneered the literary paradigm of the "seven-style" form. It established the stylistic structure of dialogue between a host and a guest and the elaborate exposition of seven themes, exerting a profound influence on the development of Han fu. With grand and ornate language, it conveys satire in an elegant manner. It vividly elaborates on scenes of sensual pleasures, hunting, and the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth. Through depicting objects to elucidate principles and using thoughtful reflection to awaken the world, it is not only a landmark work of Han Dynasty literature but also an important text for observing the customs, rituals, and daily life of ancient times.

 

 

Prologue

Pure sounds (Qing Yin)
Pure sounds, where metal and stone resound, bells and drums ring out with solemn grandeur. These ‌clear melodies‌ carry deep meaning, captivating even birds and beasts, making the mundane world fade into oblivion.

 

Exquisite delicacies (Zhen Xiu)
Exquisite dishes are laid out, and the aroma of food from the cauldrons and chopping blocks fills the air. ‌Clear wine‌ is poured to delight the spirit; the banquet brings people together in harmony, and the ‌rituals of dining‌ are conducted with grace and order.

 

Chariot Procession (Chu Cheng)
I drive the four-horse chariot, the noble carriage advancing in splendor. Gently stroking the crossbar, I fall into deep thought; my demeanor is dignified and graceful, every movement radiating elegance and decorum.

 

Luxuriant Growth (Fu Shu)
The ‌trees stand lush and well-spaced‌, the breeze fresh and the sun bright. Gathering ‌virtuous scholars‌ to express their sentiments, the elegant assembly unfolds in serene harmony, with ‌graceful demeanor and solemn decorum‌.

 

Hunting Expedition (Tian Lie)
Holding the reins firmly, I drive swiftly across the vast open plain. Drawing the carved bow with lofty ambition, the horseman's silhouette stands clear and proud, his ‌dignity and bearing‌ radiating with full splendor.

 

Gazing upon the Waves (Guan Tao) ‌
I gaze upon the surging waves—‌the long swells roll mightily, the vast torrents stretch boundlessly‌. Leaning on the perilous railing, I cast my eyes into the distance; ‌my heart follows the waves into the far horizon‌, my spirit pure, my resolve unyielding.

 

Cheng Li‌ — Upholding Ritual
Upholding this ‌solemn ceremony‌, the ‌ritual dance unfolds in radiant clarity‌. Clarifying one’s aspirations and cultivating virtue, ‌the Chinese civilization endures through ages‌, its ‌cultural lineage stretching deep and long‌.

 

Director/ Choreographer
Tian Tian
Associate Professor of Beijing Dance Academy | Doctor of Arts | Postdoctor in Design | Co-Artist of Shanghai International Dance Center Theater|Appointed editor and director of "Youth Dance Talent Cultivation Plan" |Young and Creative Talent of the China National Arts Fund | Segment Director of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics | Leader of the Writing and Directing Group of the 2018 SCO Summit

Tian Tian, a young choreographer, graduated from the Chinese classical dance department of Beijing Dance Academy with a bachelor's and a master's degree, where she studied with Mr. Sun Ying, the founder of Chinese classical Han and Tang dances. Subsequently, she pursued further academic excellence at Peking University's School of Art where she obtained a doctorate in aesthetics under the guidance of Mr. Ye Lang, an eminent aesthetics master. After completing her doctoral studies, Tian Tian refined her skills under the guidance of Director Zhang Yimou, specializing in the "Director of Grand-Scale Indoor and Outdoor Cultural Events". The "YONG" series, representative works of Chinese Classical Han &Tang Dance Program, have gained high recognition from industry professionals and garnered popularity among audiences, and also received invitations to participate in numerous domestic and international dance festivals. The Mural of Informal Music won the classical dance award of Chinese Dance Lotus Award, the Mountain and Water embraced by Fuchun, and the duet dance "Graceful Dancing Cheers Me Up"(《蹲蹲舞我》) won the classical dance “Nomination Award” of Chinese Dance Lotus Award. Other dance programs include the digital interactive dance works such as "The Worlds of Splendors"(《瑰丽·犹在镜》), "Dance sword"(《西河剑器》), live performances such as "Yuan", and music drama Southern Confucianism.

 

Dramaturg
Xu Junrui
First-class playwright, lyricist and literary director of China Oriental Performing Arts Group
National Young Cultural Talent, National Leading Talents in Playwriting by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Selected as a Young Artistic Creation Talent by the National Art Fund, Recognized as Outstanding Playwright of National Art Troupes. Her representative works include‌: A Tapestry of a Legendary Land — Winner of the 17th Wenhua Award; Wing Chun — Winner of the “Five-One Project” Outstanding Work Award and First Prize at the Guangdong Art Festival. Her major works include‌: dance drama: Du Fu, dance theatre: yào, The Pavilion of Letting Be, cultural tourism performances: Omni Chang’an, and the Great Qin, grand cultural galas: Justice Will Prevail, and Struggle On, Children of China. She was appointed as the chief scriptwriter for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 14th National Winter Games, and the creator of multiple CCTV Spring Festival Gala programs and numerous concert compositions.

 

Composer
Lu Cheng
Composer and Music Producer
His works titled Letter to My Beloved and Riverside Mist and Mountains won the China Dance Lotus Award; the dance drama Huangpu Cantata received the Best Composition Award at the Guangdong Provincial Art Festival; multiple first prizes in both composition and choreography at the Lingnan Dance Competition. Representative works include Tian Tian’s Han-Tang Dance Theatre “Yong” series, dance dramas Light of Million Hopes, Millenium Canal, and Yao Mountain Crimson Thread, and folk drama The People of Hancheng.

 

Lighting Designer
Hu Jundong
Young stage lighting designer‌
Main works: Dance programs titled YONG I, YONG II, YONG III, and The Noble in Long Full-Body Garment; musical dramas titled This is Her Qiuci, Agarwood VI (《沉香·陆》), and Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute; and the stage play Where Hearts Belong.

 

Costumes designer
Wu Juan
Chief Costume Designer of Beijing Wuyi Space Cultural Development Co., Ltd.‌
She won the ‌Best Costume Design Award‌ at the Lingnan Dance Competition, as well as multiple ‌First Prizes‌ at the Tao Li Cup Dance Competition (including Forced onto Liangshan and Zhong Kui) and the Beijing Dance Competition. Her works Ink Dance with Blank Space‌(墨舞留白) and Paper Fan Scholar (纸扇书生) won the ‌First Prize in Classical Dance‌ at the China Dance Lotus Award; Spring Will Come (春会来) won the ‌First Prize in the Contemporary Dance Category‌ at the China Dance Lotus Award; the Mountain and Water embraced by Fuchun received the ‌Grand Prize‌ at the Comprehensive Award of the “Zhejiang Style Jiangnan Dance Rhyme”. Her representative works include: Dance productions‌: The Dream of Red Chamber (《梦红楼》), Confucius 2012, Yong I, Yong II, Yong III, Nine-Colored Deer, Fat Tang and Thin Song (肥唐瘦宋), The River in Motion (《遥遥南水》); Yue opera‌: Enduring Spirit of Courage and Sword (《胆剑千秋》); and musicals‌: Ah! Kuliang, Bright Red Star.

 

CREATIVE TEAM
Director/Choreographer: Tian Tian
Dramaturg: Xu Junrui
Composer: Lu Cheng
Lighting Designer: Hu Jundong
Multimedia Design: Wang Ren, Li Qing
Costumes designer: Wu Juan
Duration: Approximately 80 mins (no interval)
Organized by: Shanghai International Dance Center Theater