Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: April 26, 2018 | 
| 中文
The dance 'The Flourishing Age of the Tang Dynasty'
To celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of the establishment of the China Cultural Centre in Pakistan, two events were arranged by the Chinese Embassy on 19th April, 2018 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad.
Within the China Cultural Centre, a joint exhibition of Pakistani and Chinese traditional artists was held in collaboration with COMSATS Art Gallery. Dr. Raheel Qamar, Rector COMSATS, Mr. You Yi, cultural counsellor of Chinese Embassy and His Excellency, Mr Yao Jing, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, attended the inauguration. According to the curator, Farrah Mahmoud, the purpose of the exhibition is to bring the two nations closer to each other, allowing them to understand each other’s traditional art.
Works by renowned artists Aqeel Solangi, Amna Hashmi and Ahmed Habib are among those displayed. Their Chinese counterparts include Wang Lianyi, Yan Jun and Zhang Wen. Mediums such as oil painting, miniature, print making, and calligraphy are on display, while the Chinese ink wash painting scrolls take up an entire wall. Woodcut prints by Chinese artists are another interesting medium on display, showcasing traditional Chinese Opera characters. The exhibition will carry on until 7th May.
In the main hall of PNCA, a performance titled ‘Impression of Tang Dynasty – New Silk Road Spirit’ was arranged by the Baoji Art Theatre group, brought to Pakistan by the Shaanxi Provincial Government of Culture. The Minister of State for Information Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage, Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb was the chief guest.
Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) was a period of great prosperity for China, especially with regards to culture. The province of Shaanxi rose in importance, since Chang’an, the capital of Tang Dynasty was located here. Historical artefacts recovered from Shaanxi reveal the dance and music of the time, which have inspired contemporary re-enactments.
The programme began with a troupe dance titled, ‘The Flourishing Age of the Tang Dynasty.’ Terracotta warriors, courtiers and dukes from across China stepped onto the stage, paying homage to the Tang Dynasty emperor and empress. A rhythmic duet called ‘Love of Eternity’ was performed by the dancers Chen Yi and Wang Wen, exploring the connection of love and nature. In ‘The Feather Dress Dance,’ the lead dancer Wang Wen acted like an empress, while her accompanying ladies symbolized fairies.
The instrumental performances, including ‘The Lu Yao Melody of Tang Dynasty,’ ‘Zen and Meditation’ and ‘Rhythmic Dancing’ featured a live orchestra of pipa (four-stringed traditional Chinese instrument), guzheng (Chinese zither) and flute. Wang Yaping, Dang Baokang and Li Xiaoju were the talented instrumentalists, and their music was accompanied by male and female dancers whirling on stage.
The PNCA troupe added some Pakistani performances to the programme, starting with a Sindhi Jhoomer dance on ‘Laal Meri Pat.’ The Pushtun Khattak dance and the Punjabi Bhangra dance were also performed, as they have been countless times before.
Madam Hu Ge sang ‘The Song of Zhen Guen,’ which narrates the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty, focusing on the spirit of unity which reigned during this period. Yuan Shuai, a male singer from Shaanxi, performed ‘The Lament of Separation,’ a farewell song dedicated by the singer to his beloved. His other song ‘Men of Guan Zhong’ was far more upbeat, with the dancers posing as fighters.
At the end, the entire Baoji Art Theatre group took to the stage for one last performance. Dancing on beating drums, the performers bid farewell with the ‘Shaanxi Drum Dance.’ In the past three years, the China Cultural Centre has arranged clothing and art exhibitions, seminars on Chinese medicine, Tai Chi and Ink-Wash Painting classes, and performances like the Rhythm of Liaohai Gala. The centre plays an integral role in introducing Pakistanis to multiple facets of Chinese culture.
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