272 Beijing Opera Performers - Li Kui - Number 116

Li Kui

Beijing Opera - "The Black Whirlwind"

Li Kui with a black broken-flower face is the leading character in the list-opera "The Black Whirlwind." Some bandits of Dingjia Mountain, posing as Song Jiang and Lu Zhishan, of Liangshan, kidnap a village girl. Li Kui, nicknamed the Black Whirlwind, who is unaware of the truth, knocks down the apricot banner of the Liangshan outlaws and curses their leader Song Jiang. Song Jiang offers to go down with him to the village to clear up the matter. After learning the truth, Li Kui goes to Song Jiang with a load of brambles on his back, a traditional way of begging forgiveness.