Life's philosophy gets a fresh new look with 'Cosmic Tree'
The Wild Da Zhu Studio and the Shanghai International Dance Center Theater are collaborating to present "Cosmic Tree," an immersive ritual theater piece that combines primal life philosophy with contemporary sound, light, and visual technology, on December 6-7.
In the Basha Miao Village of southwestern China, whenever a new life is born, the family plants a tree to welcome the child. As the tree grows alongside the child, it serves as their coffin later. A new sapling is then planted in the same location, symbolizing the ultimate covenant of life between humans and trees.
Humans and trees transcend the boundaries of species, forming the oldest and most sacred alliance of life between heaven and earth. Humanity becomes the tree, and the tree becomes humanity – mirroring and growing together as one.
Directed by Da Zhu (Zhu Fengwei), the production interweaves the humanity of the "Tree of Life" with the divinity of the Sanxingdui "Sacred Tree," a symbol of communication between humans and gods in ancient rituals.
Rooted in the Eastern "Three Powers" cosmology (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity), the work reinterprets the different layers of a tree – crown, roots, and trunk – as corresponding to these three dimensions.
The tree stands as the central axis of the stage – both a tangible vessel of life and an abstract, cosmic channel connecting heaven and earth. All props emerge from it; all stories revolve around it.
In "Cosmic Tree," the tree assumes the role of humanity in the triad, serving as a divine entity that bridges heaven and earth. It also serves as a metaphor: the tree symbolizes humanity, and humanity embodies the tree.
Renowned dance artist Yang Liping is the artistic director, while world-famous conductor and composer Tan Dun worked on the music.
If you go:
Date: December 6, 7:30pm; December 7, 2pm
Duration: Approximately 85 minutes
Venue: Grand Theater, Shanghai International Dance Center
Address: 1650 Hongqiao Rd
虹桥路1650号
Tickets: 180-680 yuan (US$25-95)
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