Qinqiang Opera Wuzi Bei by Xi'an Sanyi Troupe

The newly adapted historical Qin Opera The Wordless Stele was meticulously produced over six years by Xi’an San Yi Troupe to celebrate its 130th anniversary. With a script by national first-class playwright LUO Zhou and direction by renowned first-class director ZHANG Manjun, the production features Plum Blossom Award winners HOU Hongqin, LI Xiaoxiong, and ZHANG Tao in leading roles. Centered on Empress WU Zetian’s grand ambition to “reign under heaven, rivaling the sun and moon in the sky,” the opera portrays her dazzling yet lonely life. The symbolic imagery of the wordless memorial stele distills a profound philosophical reflection: “stand proudly before heaven and earth, and let history speak for itself.” Fusing a sweeping historical perspective with the empress’s inner journey, the production elevates the cultural depth of history into a philosophy of life, achieving a stage epic that transcends the boundaries of traditional historical drama.