183 Beijing Operas - Xue Gang - Number 43

Xue Gang

Beijing Opera - "Jiuxi Palace"

Xue Gang with a black broken-flower face in Jiuxi Palace, adapted from the novel Xue Gang Rebels Against the Tang. Xue Gang was Xue Dingshan's son. In the opera the father and son have been slandered by two court officials, Zhang Tianzuo and Zhang Tianyou, and are about to be punished. Cheng Yaojin, a prince living in Jiuxi Palace, goes to the emperor and exposes the two wicked officials. The emperor, realizing that he has made a mistake, pardons Xue Dingshan and his son.

"Peking Opera Painted Faces" (Morning Glory Publishers - Beijing 1994) - by Zhao Menglin