Highlights | “A Dream in the Garden” — International Museum Day Series Events at the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall

    

In conjunction with the theme of the 2023 International Museum Day—“Museums, Sustainability, and a Better Life”—the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall has specially curated the “A Dream in the Garden” series of events. As the saying goes, “Life is like a stroll through a garden; rare indeed is the dream that startles us.” Tang Xianzu’s theatrical masterpiece, The Peony Pavilion, the Kunqu Opera—known as the “ancestor of all operas” and inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list—and the profound, resonant sound of the guqin all embody the pinnacle of China’s outstanding traditional culture. When these art forms converge with the elegant, tranquil charm of Jiangnan gardens, they jointly usher in a unique, immersive experience steeped in classical Chinese style.

On the evening of May 9, accompanied by the romantic and exquisite melodies of the Kunqu opera “Youyuan,” the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall’s “Youyuan Jingmeng” traditional‑style garden fair opened, set to the timeless strains of the guqin—also among the first batch of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Amid flickering lights and shadows, the hall’s iconic landmarks—the Peony Pavilion and the statue of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei tenderly embracing—each scene seemed to sing the poignant tale of four centuries past. Winding paths led to secluded corners, where poetic beauty and picturesque charm unfolded; visitors found themselves immersed in an elegant, classical gathering, savoring Tang Xianzu’s operatic masterpiece “Youyuan Jingmeng,” listening to master guqin players perform the Kunqu aria “Youyuan,” watching a Hanfu fashion show, sampling Song‑dynasty tea‑ceremony techniques, and learning the art of traditional Chinese flower arranging. Through vivid performances and lively on‑site interactions, guests journeyed through time, glimpsing the splendor of China’s cultural golden age.

 

                                                                                    

PART 03 Intangible Cultural Heritage–Themed Community Education Activity: “Colorful Opera—Stage Sounds and Rhythms”

To promote China’s fine traditional culture and the opera heritage of Tang Xianzu, and to enrich the cultural and spiritual lives of local residents, our museum hosted two special intangible cultural heritage–themed educational events in the Yuming Hall: “Colorful Opera—Stage Music” on May 17 and “Colorful Opera—Stage Masks” on May 18. Chinese opera is a time-honored, multifaceted performing art form that combines singing, dancing, spoken dialogue, vocal recitation, and martial arts, integrating “singing, acting, speaking, and fighting” into a unique artistic whole that stands apart in the history of world theater. These lectures not only carry forward and celebrate the rich traditions of Chinese opera but also greatly enrich the public’s leisure cultural life, enhancing their sense of happiness and fulfillment.

     

Opera music and rhythm

Opera masks

PART 04 “Perceiving the Green Beauty of Gardens—Public Lecture on Landscaping and Maintenance”
 

On May 19, the “Perceiving the Green Beauty of Gardens—Public Lecture on Landscape Maintenance” was held in the multi‑purpose hall on the second floor of Qingyuan Building at our museum. The lecture provided a vivid, visually rich overview of five key aspects of urban landscape plant protection, offering attendees substantial, practical insights. Landscape greening represents the harmonious coexistence of nature and civilization, reflecting humanity’s reverence for and pursuit of nature and beauty. Every garden and green space embodies an enchanting aesthetic; their splendor and balance create a poetic realm where humans and nature thrive together. This event fundamentally enhanced the professional knowledge and operational skills of our staff, strengthened the timeliness of refined management practices, and elevated the overall level of landscape maintenance and management at our museum. At the same time, it helped visitors recognize that only through harmonious coexistence with nature can sustainable development be achieved.

 

 

                                                                                                            “Perceiving the Green Beauty of Gardens—Public Lecture on Landscaping and Maintenance”