In anticipation of NTDTV's Chinese Dance Competition, following is one in a series of articles that gives our readers insight into the history and meaning authentic Chinese classical dance.
In the Tang Dynasty, Wang Zhuo wrote a beguiling tale about a well-known song, "Dancing on Water." Emperor Xuan Zong loved to compose music. One time during his reign, the emperor and his favorite concubine, Yang Yun Huan, resided in his eastern capital, Luoyang.
One night, the emperor had a dream. A beautiful woman wearing a high chignon and a gown with loose sleeves came to his bedroom and bowed. "I am the dragon maiden of Ling Bo Pond," she said.
"I have gained merit by guarding the Dragon Palace. Since you are proficient in music, could you please compose a piece for our dragon family?"
In his dream, the emperor agreed and composed "Dancing on Water." When he awoke, he remembered the melody and called the royal musicians to his chambers to learn the new composition.
One day, the emperor and his musicians were playing this music near Ling Bo Pond. Suddenly, waves appeared and a wondrous figure rose up from the water. The emperor recognized her immediately as the dragon maiden of his dreams. The emperor decided then and there to build a temple near the pond. Every year he returned to worship.
In "The Unauthorized Biography of Yang Tai Zhen," we find another tale about Emperor Xuan Zong. While at Qingyuan Palace, the emperor ordered a dancer named Xie Aman to perform a dance to "Dancing on Water." The emperor's older brother, King Ning, played an instrument called a "di," the emperor himself played a sheep skin drum and Yang Tai Zhen played the pipa.
Highly-skilled musicians joined the royal assemblage. Ma Xan Qi played the fangxiang, Li Gui Nian played the bili, Zhang Ye Hu played the konghou, and He Huai Zhi played the castanets. As these musicians played, Xie Aman danced with lissome steps as light as a cloud floating in the sky, and as quickly as a dragonfly playing on water.
So beautiful was the dance that onlookers thought of the dragon maiden. Everyone was amazed by her dance. Yang Yunhuan, another dancer of great renown, was also in the audience. She presented Xie Aman with her own golden bracelet as a gift for the great performance.
The poet Zheng Yu researched stories about the imperial palace. His poem referred to Xie Aman as "Maner" during the Tang Dynasty's Kaicheng period of the Emperor Li Ang. In the poem, he wrote, "Mellow and graceful is Ying Niang's voice, light and splendid are Maner's performances." He noted that Ying Niang and Maner were renowned actresses among the sons of the Pear Garden.
NTDTV's International Classical Chinese Dance Competition will be held in July 2007. This is a wonderful opportunity for Chinese dancers throughout the world to present and promote authentic Chinese culture. As co-host, The Epoch Times is proud to support this important event.
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