Divorce was easy in ancient China for a man, but not for a woman. Poet Li Qingzhao, who lived 860 years ago, stands out as the first woman in ancient China to win a divorce settlement.
Recently, her story has been adapted for a stage play titled "She and Her Men" in the form of a mix of Kunqu melodies and Peking opera.
Veteran opera artist Li Baochun portrays the poet's two husbands.
"Her second husband is deceitful, but her first hubby is an honest guy. I play both of them. More challenging the job is, more interesting it means to me."
Li Qingzhao occupies a critical place in Chinese literary and cultural history.
In 1101, she married Zhao Mingcheng, an official who died while travelling to a new posting.
She later went on to marry Zhang Ruzhou, who was later found to be abusive and only after her fortune, allowing her to secure a divorce.
Actor Li Baochun says they decided to use the Kunqu and Peking Opera forms to differentiate between the two men.
"I think Peking opera and Kunqu opera share some similarities. I perform both to play Zhao Mingcheng, Li's late husband and Zhang Ruzhou, Li's second husband. On the other hand, the 'Pi Huang' style of Peking Opera and Kunqu can also be used to classify these two men. Zhao Mingcheng, Li's late husband, communicates with her in her spiritual world. Li married again later with Zhang Ruzhou and they talk to each other in real life."
"She and Her Men" has been staged at the Poly Theatre in Beijing.
The show is moving on to other Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Yantai, Weifang, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang through this month.
