The Iron Bow (Tie Gong Yuan)
Overview. Peking Opera The Iron Bow (also written Tie Gong Yuan, also known as The Heroic Maid) is a huadan martial play, telling the legendary story of how Chen Xiuying and Wang Fugang are brought together by a bow and finally united in marriage (derived from bangzi tradition).
Synopsis. The young woman Chen Xiuying keeps a teahouse with her mother; her late father left behind an iron bow that only great strength could draw, as a pledge for choosing a husband. The youth Wang Fugang draws the iron bow, and the two take a liking to each other. Later Fugang meets misfortune; Xiuying, disguised as a man, uses her martial skill to maneuver and rescue him, and in the end husband and wife are reunited.
Artistic Features. The play is performed by the huadan (or wudan) role; Chen Xiuying's scenes of "teahouse," "contest," and "disguise" combine singing, acting, and martial movement — lively and vigorous — a representative light comedy of the dan-line martial repertoire.
Why Watch. With martial action and comedy, bright and brisk, The Iron Bow is one of the most entertaining plays in the dan-role martial repertoire of Peking Opera.
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