183 Beijing Operas - Shen Yanlin - Number 194

Shen Yanlin

Beijing Opera - "Yutang Chun"

Shen Yanlin with an ugly civilian-clown face plays a role in "Yutang Chun," adapted from a story in "General Sayings to Warn the World." Yutang Chun (literally "Hall of Jade in Spring"} was a prostitute. Her real name was Zheng Lichun. After she was sold to a brothel, she changed her name to Yutang Chun. She also used the name Su San. In the opera she is resold by her procuress for a large sum of money to a rich merchant of Shanxi province called Shen Yanlin. More troubles await her in her new home. The merchant's wife, Pishi, jealous of the young girl, tries to kill her, but one day a bowl of poison noodles she has prepared for her is mistakenly eaten by Shen Yanlin, who dies. The wicked Pishi now accuses Yutang Chun of poisoning her husband and the innocent girl is thrown into prison. Eventually the case is solved, though not without great ordeals for Yutang Chun, and Pishi pays the death penalty for her crime.