272 Beijing Opera Performers - Yang Zhi - Number 239

Yang Zhi

Beijing Opera - "The Birthday Gifts" also called "Yellow Mud Ridge"

Yang Zhi with a blue broken-flower face plays a character in the list-opera "The Birthday Gifts" also called "Yellow Mud Ridge." Liang Shijie, army commander at Damingfu, prepares a load of gifts for his father-in-law, the emperor's tutor, and orders Yang Zhi to escort the gifts to the capital. When the gifts are waylaid by Liangshan outlaws at Yellow Mud Ridge, and Yang Zhi goes away without asking leave, the commander, who has an old grudge against him, accuses him of being an accomplice. Eventually Yang is forced to join the outlaws.