More than 2,700 people attend opera banquet in Tainan — Taipei Times
More than 2,700 people attended a banquet in Anping District, Tainan, Taiwan, accompanied by a performance of the traditional Taiwanese opera “Judge Bao Executes Chen Shimei.” The Sunday event was part of the five-day Zhamei arts festival dedicated to the theme of marital infidelity, Taipei Times reports.
The banquet and performance
The performance by the Sun Kailin Opera Troupe was held before the first of the festival’s three mass banquets. About 2,700 guests were seated at 280 tables. Participants included Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che and Democratic Progressive Party Legislative Yuan member Chen Ting-fei.
People without tickets for the paid banquet could watch the opera for free outside the dining area. Organizers estimated that about 50,000 people attended the festival’s Saturday picnic.
Reason for creating the festival
Festival representative Ma Jiatong said the impetus for creating it was an online post by Chen Hsin-yu, the daughter of former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, in which she announced her divorce. At the same time, the organizers said they did not want to comment directly on the private lives of specific people out of respect for their privacy.
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According to Ma, the initial social commentary on current events evolved into a cultural conversation about morality and marital ethics. The organizers also called for support for traditional opera.
Program and legend
The name Zhamei is a satirical reference to the Chinese tale of Judge Bao and Chen Shimei. In the folkloric version of the story, Judge Bao, despite an imperial pardon, orders the execution of prince consort Chen Shimei, who concealed his marriage from the royal family, committed marital infidelity and attempted to kill his wife and children.
The festival program included Taiwanese puppet theater and Taiwanese Hokkien opera. A production of “Judge Shi Tries an Unfaithful Husband” was announced for Monday, and “Widow Lin Catches Zhou Asi” for Tuesday.
