Drama on the Qing Dynasty: Zheng Banqiao to Grace the Chongqing Grand Theatre

Chongqing - The historical drama Zheng Banqiao will be staged at Chongqing Grand Theatre from August 22 to 23 as a key production of the theatre's Summer Performance Season. He Bing, a National Class-A actor from Beijing People's Art Theatre, serves as both director and lead actor.

Zheng Banqiao is widely regarded as one of the representative honest officials in ancient China. His well-known verse, "Though we are but minor county officials, every branch and leaf concerns us," has long been remembered as a sincere expression of care for the people. Centering on Zheng's seven-year tenure as county magistrate of Wei County in Shandong Province, the play portrays his integrity, compassion, upright character, wit, and unconventional personality, vividly presenting the story of how he stood with the people during years of hardship and natural disasters.

In terms of stage presentation, the production pursues an aesthetic of “poetic and pictorial imagery,” integrating the spirit of traditional Chinese aesthetics to create an immersive historical stage with strong artistic appeal. The play also features an innovative “donkey puppet” form, using distinctive puppetry language and metaphorical stage design to enhance expressiveness and dramatic tension. It aims to present audiences with a thought-provoking, artistically refined, and visually engaging historical drama.

As a historical drama centered on integrity, Zheng Banqiao is not only an artistic tribute to an upright official of ancient China but also an innovative practice that draws on the integrity-related values embedded in fine traditional Chinese culture. Through an accessible and engaging theatrical form, the production contributes to the cultivation of a culture of integrity in the new era. By presenting Zheng Banqiao’s life of honesty and devotion to the people, the play encourages audiences to feel the moral strength of integrity through both historical storytelling and stage art.

The story is set in the 11th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign. Zheng Banqiao is transferred to Wei County as the county magistrate at a time when rare natural disasters have struck the region for five consecutive years. To save the people from suffering, Zheng makes every effort to secure disaster relief. With the support of local gentry, including two prominent figures surnamed Zhang and Li, Wei County finally survives the crisis and regains vitality. However, just as the disaster subsides, Zhang and Li file a lawsuit against Zheng before Cui Jinjie, the prefect of Laizhou Prefecture. Why do those who once worked with Zheng turn against him? How will the people-centered magistrate respond to false accusations and mounting challenges? The answers will unfold on stage.

From history to the present, the upright spirit symbolized by Zheng Banqiao’s beloved bamboo remains deeply relevant. The staging of Zheng Banqiao in Chongqing will use the power of culture and art to further promote the values of integrity, allowing audiences to draw moral inspiration from the performance and contributing to a social atmosphere that values honesty, simplicity, and upright conduct.