183 Beijing Operas - Taiyi the Immortal - Number 271

Taiyi the Immortal

Beijing Opera - "Heavenly Mountain"

Taiyi the Immortal with a red three-tile face plays a leading role in the opera "Heavenly Mountain," adapted from an episode in "Canonizations of the Gods." Taiyi is a god in Chinese mythology. In some ancient writings, he is identified as the supreme god or ruler of Heaven. In this opera Nezha, a disciple of his, goes out to practice archery one day and accidently kills the servant maid of Shiji, a rock fairy. Shiji pursues Nezha to Heavenly Mountain where Nezha begs Taiyi to come out and save him. Taiyi tries to mediate between the two, but Shiji insists that Nezha must pay for the accidental killing with his life, Her stubbornness anger Taiyi, who engulfs her in a fire and transforms her into a rock