Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-04
Temple rn..rre. Of Yoo.che..
ffrom an Article By Mfr. Gordon crmmlsg I
the pail-Nsii f,sreff<.l

TemPie Theatres OF Yoo-Chos.
ffrcm an ArtIcie By Mir. Gordon Cumming. Ia
the rail-Nsii Gsre,ie.l
or All the odd method, ever devised W
any nation for combining amusement with
religion, | know 81 rome 50 qusiut a.
the theatrical entertainments provided BY
wealthy Cinnamon for the ediHcatiop of
their gods. InEurope we have had miracle
plays, such ~ stu attract crowds 10 Ober-
Amn.ergau; but the intention OF these I.
empbatically 70 convey deep religious inn
rressions 10 the minds Of the people, where
a- the temple plays in China are solely in
tended TO amuse and propifiate the idols,
who are supposed, IN common witt; their
woTshipper-. TO have a passion for the
drama, ard 20 share their wonderful power
OF endurance IS regards the length OF the
plays. some Of which are dragged on for
three whole days. from dawn "a sunset.
These temple-piay, are the great and gratis
entertainment OF the people. who attend 10
crowds. densely-packcd ttrons. al
dressed IN blue. d. every available corner
Of the temple court fthe plays being
IN the omen aiT) ana OF the steps leading
up 20 the altar, above which the idols
SIT euthroned. The stage l. always d sepa.
rate building facing the temple--a sort OF
kiosk, open on three sides--its beautifully
carved, curly roof being supported on
carved. pillafs. The court Il iBclo,ed by
open corridors with galleries, in which
seats ate provided for the mand9riBr and
principal citizens. In the lower corridors
many bsrher. ply their trade diligently, for
skul.-scrspirs and hair.pla!ting j. a busl-
ness which must not DC neglected. and
which can be successfully combined with
. ~ -fs.s.r Of ftl4V AsnAgF.
OF refre-hmcui.. too, iind a good market
Tor their wares.
Reg;ilST playg 0er. soon learn 20 di>crimi-
nate between the di;Irrpni ttnulsS who
travel about lie COUNTY, jus, a.. theatrical
companies do n Europe. OF course the
very be-t trOupeS are engaged hy The great
mercantile guild. iOr thcir magnificent
temple theatres. which are aiways worth
willing. one Of the first which attracted
IA, IN Foot hoo va, the great guild ~ the
NipgpO merchants. We obtained aianta-
liZing glimpse OF the scene from the ROOF
oi a neiehbor.ng house. where one Of our
Chine-e iripnd, va, sitting with hl,
sons. Wishing FOR nearer view,
but not caring 20 face the dcuse crowd,
we entered the guild which /, practically
club, hy q side-ioOr. which took a. right
into the actual temple, where the kindly
priest. put IL into good place iu-t IN front
OF the great altar. whence. Of course. We
lad perfect view. and \ stranger scene ]
never heheld: The temple, the ihcaire. and
the side courts are One mas OF rich carving
in WOOD and stone, crimson sid gold. with
the gray. cuTiou>iy-carved roofs. harn1-
liziu- with brilliant blue ky. On the
stage there were most exciting hunting
scenc,. in one of which an Amazon Queen
shot tiger with bow and arrow. II va,
noble Chinese tiger with brauiiiullur. much
handsomcr than the hairy tiger II India.
ard II mad hcrce .,rccn ewes. II rolled over
quite dead. and the attendant, tied H. legs
10 bamboo and carried II oil IN triumph.
The Illusion was moi improved 10y the very
p,lcni fact that il wore large IS hitc- -oieu
Chine,e shoes on H. hind paws. All the
spNire oi the play i. done py COOL, in
their ordinary blue garments. The acting
OF thi- troupe was excellent, aud | was
much amused few weeks later. when
visiting the fOo-ChOo Guild ut NingpO. 10
find The identical company acting tins idcn-
tical piece. Rather an odd coincidence.
Ha, ipg been 20 much interested by our
Wit 10 the NiugpO Guild We were de-
lighted few days later 10 receive an IN
vitation from Chinese merchant to attend
similar entertainment at the Canton
Guild. which, though les beautiful in
poini OF scenic effect. i m exceedingly
handsome building. which on this festive
occasion Na> embeilsncd with scarlet cloth
and beautiful flowers and shrub, in china
u0i>. We thought il best TO 20 immedl-
atcly after luncheon, when our host met
u~ and took IT, 10 IN excellent place in
the mandarin's gallery. We came III
for the end OF some long piece III
which the hero was magicln wearing
a hidrous red mask and q long black beard.
He was armed with magic wand. aud
long pcacock'S feathers dropped from his
head-dreSS He wore arichly-cmbrOldered
blue satin robe with white sleeves. aud
four FLAG OF crimson silk. with golden
fringe. huttored from his shoulders To rep
resent wing. This ugly monster bad ear
ried off 4 beautiful. Small-iooted woman.
OF course we knew that she was man. a.
no woman ever acts in China, but her act
inewas 50 natural and essentially feminine
that we could scarcely realize this fact.
How the etlc.-t OF the small feet was pro-
duced was the most puZzlipg thing OF al,
but the lady tOttcred about i'll the
most natural slyle. carefully displaying The
little deiormed golden-lily feel" and be-
slowing upon IT, most bewltchmg chances
from behind her fan. a. il craving our SYM
pathy. while pouring forth her tale OF >or-
row m a shrill. high trebe-a most singu-
lar faSctto. which all these male actresses
seem able 10 assume. The magician argued
and Scoldcd in more manly slnS-Nong'
quite ~ wcuri>ome To the ear. ana "e>llch-
| lated and whirled himself wildly about.
while the dreadful orchestra banged yig0r-
o1.Iy on eongs and kettlednm>, beat
L.. alunar,1 a. pl.als and
duced dismal walls from various >tringed
instruments. the whole resulting in u
neyer-ccasing series Of most eNcruclatin@
di.cords. Then another couple appeared
tpon the scene, but evidently their wooine
was not sanctioned by the god>. for sud-
denly. amid flashing fame,. magnificent
loss. clotaed in black satin embroidered
with Golden dragons. appeared on high
pedestal The culprit> fell At hi feet - u
| dead. Risingand trembling, the man. after
| "A long struggle. obeycd the command ot thc
| God. and cit of the woman head. Her
| blood SpIrted all over him-a horrible
| sight hut to prevent it being too realistic
| the corpse quickly rose and tottered out.
while the hero caught up a ,hlm head
| which had been rolled 10 his feet.
We now had to return home 10 receive
.nothrr mandarin. who was bringing his
wife 10 tea with ~. but our friend kindly
! insisted on our returning 10 dine with hlm
at the Canton Guild at q L. NJ. which We
| accordingly did, being summoned IN due
| form by a servant bringing H. his master :
| enormous red visiting card, which >iSnihed.
! Come. for all things are now ready. We
found an the little tables in the mandarin
gallery spread for Chinese feast.
| with all manner of odd and end dishes to
| bGnibbled and tasted in the intervals OF the
real courses. which were brought IN one
| bowl al time. whence or host ana hi'
| friend helped u. all with their own chop
! sticks. The cooking was tr>t-class. aud
we thought many of the dishes excellent
| such a. shark's-fn soup, pigcon's-egg soup.
| ducks Tongues, samlin fish, bamboo shoots
and multitude Of other good things. II
was a very prolonged feat. and all the time
! the play was going on for our entertain
mcnt.
Our host selected play which he thought
would interest Us. and certainly nothing
more extraordinary could be conceived.
There was q Chinese emperor with 4 lon9
white beard. and pretty empress WIN
| delicate feature, and aqui!ine nose. B0th
wore wonderful jewelcd head-dre>>es ana
| rich robes embroidered with dragons. They
| sat together beneath huge state umbrella.
! Around them stood mobiles in gorgeoll, APP
pare and gigantic magician with bear1
reaching to his knees. one hand p'aNeu