The Chinese musical drama is a performance art incorporating singing, recitation, acting, dancing, acrobatics, martial arts, and pantomime. It takes root in ancient times. Today, there are over three hundred unique kinds of local operas in China.

The Lucky Purse is an adaptation of the original play from the Peking Opera repertoire. It’s a moving story about a kind-hearted young lady from a rich family who loses her luxury and riches but gets a well-deserved reward and salvation for her loyalty and helping others.

The Peking Opera is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is rightfully considered a gem of the Chinese performance arts. The traditional storylines are mostly based on famous historical events and heroic legends. The Lucky Purse remains one of the most popular—and core—plays in the Peking Opera repertoire.

In this book, you will also:

• find an artistic analysis of the play’s libretto
• get to know the symbols in the play
• see the costumes that actors wear on stage
• learn about the musical instruments played during the performance