'The Code of the Dynasty II' Recreates Song Dynasty Aesthetics
The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center has been staging its self-produced Chinese-style suspense play "The Code of the Dynasty II" this month. The popular work will then move to the West Bund Grand Theater next month.
Similar to its predecessor, "The Code of the Dynasty I," this production is inspired by the novel of the same name by contemporary Chinese author and screenwriter Ye Wenbiao.
The original six-volume novel took ten years to complete. Set against the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127) painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," it weaves a series of suspenseful cases while reimagining that period's humanities, history, and customs.
"The Code of the Dynasty I" was based on the first volume of the novel, while "The Code of the Dynasty II" is based on the fourth.
The play centers on Zhang Yong, a free-spirited artisan, and shows ancient Chinese artisans' exquisite craftsmanship and integrity in two cases. Through detective work, it reveals the national crisis beneath the dynasty's apparent prosperity.
"Along the River During the Qingming Festival" is a Chinese art masterpiece and a historical snapshot full of mysteries and imagination. Ye created 824 historical characters based on the painting's era and structured the story around five main threads: scholar officials, farmers, artisans, merchants, and soldiers.
The story is set in the Song Dynasty, but artisan Zhang's eccentric, humorous personality, wisdom, and sober view of a corrupt world have made "The Code of the Dynasty II" as popular as its predecessor.
Director Wang Junye said he didn't want to simply describe the process of solving bizarre cases.
"I hope to use the cases as a prism to reflect the living conditions and spiritual dilemmas of every individual under the grotesque social landscape of the Xuanhe era (1119–1125) in the Northern Song Dynasty."
The play features Song Dynasty aesthetics with clever touches of ancient Chinese architectural design tied to the main plot, as well as an intangible cultural heritage "eagle kite" and various daily utensils recreated from the painting.
Performance info
Dates: June 5-6, 7:30pm; June 7, 2pm
Tickets: 180-580 yuan
Venue: West Bund Grand Theater 西岸大剧院
Address: 2290 Longteng Avenue 龙腾大道2290号
