HOME >> Entertainment >> The Tang Dynasty Show
The Tang Dynasty lasted from 618AD to 907AD. During this time China experienced tremendous culture, artistic and technological achievements. Even now, modern Chinese culture owes much to the historical legacies of The Tang Dyansty. The Tang Dynasty Dinner Show has been recreated in accordance with various historical records as well as ancient art and relics discovered in Xian. It is a performance of Chang'an music and dance originated in China's Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago. The Tang Dynasty Dinner Show is performed by the "Tang Dynasty Song & Dance Troupe", a branch of the "Shaanxi Provincial Song & Dance Troupe". This type of performance has been treasured as a national art that reflects the glory and richness of the Tang Dynasty era.
The history of Tang Dynasty Show:
Xian city, which was formerly known as Chang'an has a very long history, and was the imperial capital during 13 dynastic periods. Of these, the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) was the most prosperous and glorious of all. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is an outstanding exponent of this ancient stable and prosperous society, keeping alive its splendid culture and providing an insight into the peaceful life style of the period.
As an art form, the show has its roots in folk fetes, when dances were first performed by people as part of rituals of prayer for a good harvest or a better life. Over thousands of years, the dances developed from a few simple postures or gestures to become delicate and artistic reaching a peak during the Tang Dynasty. Thus a wide range of unusual oriental musical instruments, many techniques such as painting, sculpting, pattern and costume design, cuisine and dining etiquette, singing and dancing was accepted by the Chinese, paving the way for the kind of entertainment that is now the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show.
The content of performances:
1. The Huaqing Palace
"The Huaqing Palace" is a typical piece of Tang court music. In this performance you will see various ancient Chinese musical instruments.This selection was originally performed at royal banquets at the Huaqing Palace, a Tang imperial palace located twenty miles east of Xian at the foot of Mt. Lishan.
2. The White Ramie Cloth Costume Dance
The "White Ramie Cloth Costume Dance" was a popular folk dance during the Tang Dynasty. The ramie cloth was actually discovered by the Chinese during the Jin dynasty, and the dance was choreographed to demonstrate the flowing quality of this new fabric.
3. Battling Dance of the King of Qin
"The Battling Dance of the King of Qin" is a triumphal dance created by Tang Taizong, a Tang Emperor renowned for building the empires military strength. "King of Qin" was his official title before being crowned the Tang Emperor. The weapons and flags used in performance are replicas of those used by his soldiers.
4. Red and Blue Camelot Dance
"The Red and Blue Camelot Dance" was a Tang court dance created by Yang Guifei, the favourite concubine of Tang Emperor Tang Xuanzong. Yang Guifei, renowned as one of the four most beautiful women in Chinese history, choreographed and performed the dance as a recreation of one of the Emperors dreams.
5. Da Nuo Dance
"The Da Nuo Dance" is a sorcerers dance originating in ancient China and performed as early as in the Zhou Dynasty. Later, during the Han and Tang Dynasties, it was performed during ceremonies for good luck and to dispel evil spirits and plagues.
6. Qui Ci Zhe Zhi Dance
Since ancient times, Qui Ci developed as its own unique Northwestern Chinese civilization, and was well known for its cultural music and dances. During the period of the Tang Dynasty, the Ambassadors of Qui Ci would stage performances of their unique cultural music and dances each year as an homage to the Tang Emperors. It has since gained popularity and fame.
7. Buddhas Theme
Buddhism was the most popular religious belief during the Tang dynasty. "The Buddhas Theme" is a piece of music which expresses the philosophy of Buddhism.
8. A Farmers Home along the Wei River Valley
"A Farmers Home" is a solo traditionally sung by a woman. The lyrics are from a poem by Wang Wei, a famous Tang Dynasty poet (also known as "the patriotic poet"), which imagines the simple and yet happy life of a farmer.
9. Spring Orioles Song
"Spring Orioles Song" was a piece of music that was created for Tang Gaozongs inauguration. During the ceremony, a flock of orioles flew overhead. The emperor was so impressed by this good luck sign that he ordered his court musicians to compose music for the Pai Xiao, a three thousand years old instrument, to imitate the sound of the orioles. This music will be performed by Executive Producer, Gao Ming, who is internationally recognized as the premier performer of the Pai Xiao.
10. Glory of the Silk Country
"Glory of the Silk Country" is an excerpt from the award-winning Chinese opera "The Silk Road Rainbow," created and written by Executive Producer Gao Ming in 1990. This sensational opera tells the story of the legendary Silk Road which, for hundreds of years, served as the main thoroughfare between China and the West. The scene depicted tells of the Tang Emperors approval and support in establishing the Silk Road.