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Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile 谪仙楼

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Marionette Plays from Northern China
This chapter is in the book Marionette Plays from Northern China
237Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile 谪仙楼IntroductionPavilion of the Immortals in Exile (hereafter Immortals in Exile) is one of the longest and most popular plays1 of Heyang’s marionette theater repertoire. Entirely fictional and refreshingly unusual, this tale reflects superbly the sub-conscious desires of young men and women of traditional society. Although female agency (that also benefits the desires of young men) is common in Chinese drama, Immortals in Exile requires even more suspension of disbelief than usual. In this story, two heroines get to interview and select their own husbands; and a woman warrior marries the warrior of her dreams. Scholars who have not yet proven themselves through obtaining the Third Degree (the highest Presented Scholar [jinshi 进士] degree) can be selected for marriage by exquisitely beautiful, intellectual, and intelligent young ladies from an upper-class family. A young Chinese warrior is similarly chosen by a highly eligible female, and gains both an easy victory over invaders and the hand of a foreign princess through the agency of the warrior princess. The name of this play, Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile, is based on the pavilion built by the mother of Wonder Immortal (Xu Miaoxian 许妙仙) as the site where she and her cousin, Jade Immortal (Xie Yaoxian 谢瑶仙), will interview and select their husbands. Although women in Chinese operas frequently scheme to elope with or marry poor, handsome scholars without parental consent, this marital selection arrangement is quite exceptional, even for a play. These young ladies get the best of both worlds. They get to choose their own mates, with the approval of their mother and guardian. 1. The script for this play is found in Shaanxisheng Wenhuaju, ed., Heyang xianxi in Shaanxisheng chuantong jumu, xianxi,767–809. The play script was collected by Ma Jingxian 马静轩.
© 2017 State University of New York

237Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile 谪仙楼IntroductionPavilion of the Immortals in Exile (hereafter Immortals in Exile) is one of the longest and most popular plays1 of Heyang’s marionette theater repertoire. Entirely fictional and refreshingly unusual, this tale reflects superbly the sub-conscious desires of young men and women of traditional society. Although female agency (that also benefits the desires of young men) is common in Chinese drama, Immortals in Exile requires even more suspension of disbelief than usual. In this story, two heroines get to interview and select their own husbands; and a woman warrior marries the warrior of her dreams. Scholars who have not yet proven themselves through obtaining the Third Degree (the highest Presented Scholar [jinshi 进士] degree) can be selected for marriage by exquisitely beautiful, intellectual, and intelligent young ladies from an upper-class family. A young Chinese warrior is similarly chosen by a highly eligible female, and gains both an easy victory over invaders and the hand of a foreign princess through the agency of the warrior princess. The name of this play, Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile, is based on the pavilion built by the mother of Wonder Immortal (Xu Miaoxian 许妙仙) as the site where she and her cousin, Jade Immortal (Xie Yaoxian 谢瑶仙), will interview and select their husbands. Although women in Chinese operas frequently scheme to elope with or marry poor, handsome scholars without parental consent, this marital selection arrangement is quite exceptional, even for a play. These young ladies get the best of both worlds. They get to choose their own mates, with the approval of their mother and guardian. 1. The script for this play is found in Shaanxisheng Wenhuaju, ed., Heyang xianxi in Shaanxisheng chuantong jumu, xianxi,767–809. The play script was collected by Ma Jingxian 马静轩.
© 2017 State University of New York

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Illustrations vii
  4. Acknowledgments ix
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Post-Midnight Skits
  7. Lai Baozi (赖包子) 23
  8. "Peddling Notions" 卖杂货 41
  9. Historical Fiction
  10. Empress Lü Usurps the Throne 吕后篡位 49
  11. Yang Wenguang 杨文广 95
  12. Short Version of River Yang 小阳河 137
  13. Romance
  14. The White Undershirt 白汗衫 187
  15. Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile 谪仙楼 237
  16. Works Cited and Bibliography of Chinese Puppet Theater 309
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https://doi.org/10.1515/9781438464855-010

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. Illustrations vii
  4. Acknowledgments ix
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Post-Midnight Skits
  7. Lai Baozi (赖包子) 23
  8. "Peddling Notions" 卖杂货 41
  9. Historical Fiction
  10. Empress Lü Usurps the Throne 吕后篡位 49
  11. Yang Wenguang 杨文广 95
  12. Short Version of River Yang 小阳河 137
  13. Romance
  14. The White Undershirt 白汗衫 187
  15. Pavilion of the Immortals in Exile 谪仙楼 237
  16. Works Cited and Bibliography of Chinese Puppet Theater 309
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