183 Beijing Operas - Wang Ling - Number 65

Wang Ling

Beijing Opera - "The Gold Seal"

Wang Ling with a blue three-tile face stars in the opera "The Gold Seal," adapted from an episode in the historical novel "Popular Romance of the Western Han," by Zhen Wei of the Ming Dynasty. The novel begins with the kidnapping of Prince Yiren of Qin by the state of Zhao and ends with the death in 191 BC of Liu Bang, founder of the Western Han. Wang Ling, Liu Bang's friend, saved Liu Bang's family from his arch enemy Xiang Xu. After the Han Dynasty was established, Wang was named Marquis of Anguo and served for a time as prime minister.