Xu Jiujing's Rise to Office (Xu Jiu Jing Sheng Guan Ji)
Overview. Xu Jiujing's Rise to Office is a classic in the history of Peking Opera, adapted by Guo Dayu and Xi Zhigan from a solo comic dialogue (xiangsheng) "Yao Jia Jing" by Zhang Shouchen, revealing through laughter and wrath the inner journey and the way of governance of a "crooked in body but upright in heart" good official.
Synopsis. In the Ming dynasty, Xu Jiujing, magistrate of Yutian, is a man of talent who has met with no recognition and often drowns his sorrows in wine, thinking his life hopeless. One day, You Jin, the brother-in-law of the Co-regent Prince, is holding his wedding, when Liu Yu, the adopted son of the Marquis of An'guo, bursts in with soldiers and abducts the bride, Li Qianniang. Thereupon the Co-regent Prince orders the Court of Judicial Review to arrest Liu Yu, while the Marquis instructs the same court to severely punish You Jin. Fearing the awesome power of both sides, the Court dares not hear the case, and the six ministers flee in fright. Then the Co-regent Prince remembers Xu Jiujing, who bears an old grudge against the Marquis, and recommends him as President of the Court. Xu Jiujing, overjoyed, goes to the capital; before leaving he bids farewell to his friend the tavern-keeper Li Xiao'er, who gives him a jar of old Yutian wine in congratulation. Soon after taking office, his page Xu Ming learns the Marquis will marry Liu Yu and Qianniang the next day. Xu Jiujing acts at once, going to the Marquis's mansion under the pretense of offering congratulations. The Marquis gives him a humbling reception, ordering him to announce himself before entering; Xu Jiujing, undaunted, engages the Marquis in a war of words and, with a taunt, lures Li Qianniang out of the mansion. But the Marquis demands he open the trial the next day and award Qianniang to Liu Yu, or forfeit his head. Xu Jiujing, thinking on his feet, seeks to borrow the Imperial Sword from the Co-regent Prince to check the Marquis; with a small ruse he retrieves the jar of wine he had given the Marquis and goes to the Co-regent's mansion. There the Prince's consort receives him warmly and shows him the marriage contract You Jin made with Qianniang, and agrees to produce the Imperial Sword. With material evidence in hand and victory seeming assured, Xu Jiujing brings the wine back unopened. But when he tries Qianniang by night, he learns she had long pledged herself to Liu Yu, and that You Jin is indeed a scoundrel who seized another's wife. Li Xiao'er, Qianniang's cousin, confirms this, to Xu Jiujing's great shock. Then the Co-regent Prince sends the Imperial Sword, ordering him to award Qianniang to You Jin. Furious and despairing, Xu Jiujing seizes the wine and drinks; a jar of old wine is nearly gone. In a drunken dream his "conscience" and "self-interest" take shape and quarrel without end. The Co-regent presses further, sending a eunuch with a deadly poison to threaten his life. Just as he is at his wits' end, a word from his page Xu Ming enlightens him. At the trial Xu Jiujing turns the trap to his advantage, feigns to catch then releases, uses the Imperial Sword to cow the Prince, and cleverly makes You Jin confess his forged contract, thus sentencing and disposing of him, while also uniting the loving pair Liu Yu and Qianniang. Having concluded the case, Xu Jiujing himself removes his robe and cap and goes off to sell wine for a living.
Artistic Features. A comic xiaosheng (or laosheng) showcase, famous for the "conscience vs. self-interest" dream scene and Xu Jiujing's crooked gait and comic dilemma.
Why Watch. Xu Jiujing's Rise to Office is a rare satirical comedy in Peking Opera that, amid laughter, upholds an official's upright heart.
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