Greetings dear Steemians! Are any of you interested in ancient Chinese culture and art? In my last post, I introduced everyone to traditional Chinese Opera as well as showed you some pictures of me wearing some traditional Chinese attire.

When I hear the words "Ancient China", I think of the China's Imperial rulers，their strange clothes and the Emperor's harem of wives. What do you think of?

The city of Xi'an was home to the rise and fall of 13 dynasties. One dynasty in particular was China's most flourishing one. This is why the architecture is decorated extravagantly. Today we're going to visit the theatre and take a trip back to the Tang Dynasty.

Xi'an Tang Dynasty Theatre

Highlights of the Theatre

1. Combining a feast with dancing and singing, spectators are able to enjoy the performance whilst enjoying some Tang style delicacies. In fact, a court feast with singing and dancing entertainment is something Tang people introduced to foreigners and ethnic minorities as a standard etiquette. This visit to the theatre was an opportunity for us to enjoy the show as well as experience how the Tang people treat guests of it's court.
2. The Tang dynasty theatre is the only restaurant theatre in China who's ethnic minority orchestra accompany's the singing and dancing.
3. The Tang dynasty theatre is China's highest class act imitating Tang dynasty's dancing and singing.

Credit to thesilkroadchina

On May 25th 2015, CNN began shooting the documentary called "The Silk Road" at this venue, detailing the ancient trade route that stretched from China all the way to Africa and Europe.

Credit to tkpwest

The Music and Dance theatre show re-tells the legend of the Tang Dynasty

Music

This is the only theatre show in China that has a traditional Chinese music band perform the accompaniment live along side the show. The members of the band are dressed in traditional clothing and some of the instruments you will see and hear are the er hu and pipa lute

A live performance of a well known pan-pipes player who composed parts of the piece and improvised the rest. A very high difficulty feat that pays homage to the musical arts of the Tang Dynasty.

Videos are recorded by myself.

The vocal mastery developed during the Tang period are one of proudest achievements of the Tang Dynasty. In fact, it set the precedence for subsequent Chinese Traditional Opera. A contribution that will always be valued and never overlooked.

Credit to wxrw123

Stage Design

The stage design for the show is loosely based on the mural paintings of the Mogao caves in Dunhuang. Every detail of the court is designed with finesse, it certainly serves the original court justice with its grandeur and magnificence.

Credit to juntu

The Life of the Tang Empress, Wu Zetian

The emergence of a mysterious woman, rewrote the history of the Tang dynasty as well as subverted the traditional imperial rule of ancient kings. The Tang Empress, Wu Zetian is the only woman in Chinese history to be an emperor. She also happens to be one of the longest living emperors in history.

You must be curious as to how a monarchy previously ruled exclusively by men, allowed a woman to preside of the position of Emperor. Lets go back to the Tang Dynasty and see how the theatre show re-enacts the story of the rise of the Tang Empress, Wu Zetian.

Wu Zetian's entry to the court

Wu Zetian entered the imperial palace at the age of 14. Because of her good looks, she was chosen as one of the Tang Emperor's (Tang Taizong) imperial concubines. Wu Zetian stood out from her counterparts for she was not only beautiful, but also highly intelligent. She demonstrated her abilities training a horse and caught the attention of the Emperor, Tang Taizong who garnered a whole new level of respect for the woman as a result.

Wu Zetian re-enter's the court

Wu Zetian was unable to gain the utmost favour from the Emperor, Tang Taizong and remained a low tier concubine for 12 years. On an expedition trip, the Emperor, Tang Taizong fell ill and during this time, Wu Zetian and then prince, Li Zhi became lovers. After the Emperor, Tang Taizong passed away, it is customary for the concubines to all leave the imperial court and live at the Temple as widows for the rest of their lives, however, Li Zhi could not forget Wu Zetian, after assuming power as the new Emperor, he once again called for Wu Zetian's entry to the imperial court where she became a concubine to the new Emperor. This time however, she was held very much in favour for Li Zhi loved her very much and placed her very highly.

Credit to sanbengzi

Credit to sanbengzi

The internal struggles of Concubines in the court

Wu Zetian's biggest enemy was the Imperial Consort (The emperors first in line wife), but she had to overcome many other concubines who all sought to gain the favour and attention of the Emperor. Wu Zetian was ruthless and stopped at nothing to succeed. Just 1 month after the birth of her daughter, the imperial consort came to visit Wu Zetian. When she left, Wu Zetian choked her own baby daughter to death and blamed the Imperial consort. When the Emperor found out about this incident, he forced the imperial consort out of the court and made Wu Zetian the first wife, and imperial consort.

Ascension to the throne

Tang Gaozong (Li Zhi) in his elderly years became susceptible to frequent headaches. He allowed Wu Zetian to manage governance and political matters in his absence. In her push for power, she was given an equal footing as the Emperor in overseeing political matters. After the Emperor, Li Zhi passed away, Wu Zetian in a bid to secure her power, once again deposed of all succeeding princes leaving her as the only successor to power. She finally became the first and only female Emperor. During her reign, she made notable contributions to the legacy of the Tang Dynasty and her legend is always worth recalling.

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Credit to sanbengzi

So that's the story of Wu Zetian and her life as she rose to power. From the theatre show, we were able to revisit all these key points of history giving us a re-enacted experience of how Wu Zetian's legend came about.

It was really fun sharing this segment of Chinese History and Culture with everybody, I'm really looking forward to sharing more in the future, giving everybody a bit of extra knowledge about China's rich history and culture.

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你好，亲爱的Steemit朋友们，不知道有没有人和我一样感兴趣中国古代的文化艺术？在上一篇中国古典文化的文章我介绍了中国古代神秘的歌剧，同时分享了我自己穿上古装服饰的照片，你们能在这里
看到。
听到中国古代，我们会不由得想起它的君王制度，古人奇特的服装或者还有在后宫内住着的一群皇帝的老婆，是不是很有意思？西安这座古城见证了中国古代13代王朝的兴衰，其中唐朝是中国古代最鼎盛的王朝，也是最富有的朝代，所以他们建筑的装潢和服饰都非常奢华，今天就让我们一起走进剧场，做一场穿越回唐代的美梦。

西安唐乐宫剧院
剧院亮点：

1. 宫廷晚宴与唐宫乐舞相融合，观众们可以一边品尝唐朝宫廷宴的特色小吃一边欣赏唐代歌舞。宫廷宴配歌舞是唐朝招待外国使臣和少数民族的传统上的礼节。所以来宾在这家剧院可以享受一把唐代招待贵宾的待遇。
2. 唐乐宫是中国唯一一家民族乐团现场演奏的歌舞剧院餐厅。
3. 唐乐宫是中国高端仿唐歌舞文化的代表。
   2015年5月25日，美国CNN《丝绸之路》电视系列节目在唐乐宫开拍，“丝绸之路”是古代唐朝连接亚洲、非洲和欧洲的古代商业贸易路线。

歌舞剧重现唐朝传奇故事
音乐

1. 这是全国唯一的古典乐团现场伴奏，他们穿着古代伎乐俑的服装，弹奏琵琶和二胡。
   (二胡是我身后最左边的乐器，琵琶是我身后中间的乐器)
2. 自创自制的仿唐排箫现场独奏，高度还原了唐代乐舞艺术。
3. 唐代歌伎有着炉火纯青的歌唱造诣，推动和发展了唐朝声乐艺术。为中国民族声乐的发展做出了不可磨灭的贡献。
   舞台设计
   这场歌舞剧的舞台设计参考了莫高窟唐代壁画《乐舞图》设计的唐代宫廷装饰，细致还原了唐代宫廷的庄严宏伟。
   武则天的生平
   一位神秘女人的出现，改写了唐朝的历史，也颠覆了古代传统的君王制度。她就是中国历史上唯一正统的女皇帝，也是寿命最长的皇帝之一“武则天”。你一定会好奇在中国这样一个自古由男人统领天下的国家，怎么会允许一个女人主持天下？下面就让我们穿越回唐朝，欣赏唐代宫廷歌舞所演绎的武则天的传奇故事。
4. 武则天初入宫廷
   武则天14岁入宫，因为相貌姣好被选为皇帝唐太宗的妃子。武则天聪明绝顶，曾经为皇帝唐太宗驯马，让唐太宗刮目相看。
5. 武则天再次入宫
   武则天并未得到唐太宗的宠爱，做了12年的低等级的妃子，地位始终没有得到提高。唐太宗后来去征战，病重期间，武则天和太子李治建立了感情。唐太宗死后，武则天跟随其他无子孙的妃子入了寺庙，后来因为新皇帝“唐高宗“李治对武则天念念不忘，便将武则天再次招入宫中，唐高宗李治非常宠爱武则天，武则天再一次成为皇帝的妃子。
6. 宫中妃子的争斗
   武则天最大的敌人是皇后，当然其他的妃子也在和武则天明争暗斗，都希望得到皇上最多的宠爱。武则天攻于心计，心狠手辣，在自己的女儿出生一月之际，皇后来看望武则天的女儿，武则天在皇后走后掐死自己的女儿，嫁祸给皇后，皇帝知道后废了皇后立武则天为新皇后。
7. 登基为皇帝
   唐高宗李治晚年有严重头疼的病，就允许武则天代管理朝政，在武则天的努力争取掌权下，后来实现了天王天后一起上朝处理政务的场景。李治死后，身为皇太后的武则天在一次次废掉太子之后当上了皇帝，执政期间，为唐朝历史作出了杰出的贡献。

这就是一代女皇武则天传奇的一生，从美妙的歌舞中梦回唐朝的历史，又对历史有了更多的体会，以后我还会跟多的分享中国的文化历史。期待与你们的下一次探索。

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If you are interested in my other blogs related to culture please check out these other blogs below

Unravelling the mysteries of Ancient Chinese Opera.
Why you don't see Chinese Girls wearing bikini's at the beach?
Taking Steemit to a Concert in China.