Jin Yong Xiqu Theatre – The Smiling, Proud Wanderer Programme 2 House Programme Jin Yong Xiqu Theatre – The Smiling, Proud Wanderer Programme 2 House Programme Jin Yong Xiqu Theatre – The Smiling, Proud Wanderer Programme 2 House Programme

Director, Arts Tech Installation: Mathias Woo

Naamyam Writing / Performer: Yeung Kin-ping@TroVessional

Performer: Zachary Pink Yung

Read-singing in Naamyam Jin Yong’s classic wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. Narrating brutal bloodsheds, singing about favours and grudges in the martial arts world.

The winds are cold, the rain gloomy in the dark night.
Whiffs of smoke scatter along the journey home.
The world of martial arts is in turmoil,
dominated by bloodshed rather than romance.
Some want to turn away from it forever.
Yet the path leads only to the river of no return,
ridden by debts of gratitude and the duty to avenge.
Enmity and sin can never be uprooted.
People always lust for power.
Intrigue and conspiracy are but tedium.
Obsessed with the martial arts,
people fight to the death over trivial issues
all for vain glory, with no one conceding.
Arrogant and perverse, trapped in their cocoons,
they pursue narrow gains, ignoring greater dangers.
Flower buds may grow, but the grass wilts.
Heaven predestines who wins or loses.
Why take it so seriously?
What if we just smile and forget it all,
enjoying our carefree days with qin and sword?

The Nine Swords of Dugu reigns supreme.
Unmatched in power, its force is unstoppable.
It has 360 transformations based on yin and yang.
It attacks, doesn’t defend, but presages future steps.
Its aura is like moving clouds and lightning rods.
Its goal is like water flowing in crevices and fountains.
With pre-emptive strikes, it attacks the enemy’s core,
ridding the confines of martial arts technique,
making the warrior forget himself and his sword.
There’s no line of attack, hence no line of defense.

Calling himself “lonesome”, he demeans himself.
It makes no sense that he should “yearn for defeat”.
He was stubborn, claiming he forsook technical prowess.
He was undefeated, but time caught up with him.
In the end, his body turned to dust.
He was so intent on trivial pursuits that
even if he did succeed one day,
yearning for defeat and victory meant nothing.

His sword skills made him the most respected warrior.

Unable to shake his fame, he was overcome with terror.

It’s not so easy to tell right from wrong.

It’s befuddling to differentiate good from evil.

Decrees from above can destroy hearts and souls.

Rules of propriety can lead to utter disgrace. 

They can kill suddenly without shedding blood.

Some people pretended they were just and fair.

Others were wronged at clan altars,

sentenced to death without reason.

Some ignored injustice, calculating in their ploys,

thus gaining fame and reputation.

Others spoke up and gained higher ground

or they lowered their heads, conning others for pity.

It was tricky to handle such intrigue.

One slight misstep and you could die.

That was the Sword of the Moral Man.

He who wielded that sword had the power to kill.

Supreme skills were always hard to acquire.

One must self-castrate to practice such swordplay.

No, not the physical body,

but castrating one’s humanity as a way of preservation.

Mortal desires and vanity cannot be concealed.

Obsession can lead to madness.

Even until death, greed isn’t quashed.

How can one enjoy both fish and bear paw?

Director, Arts Tech Installation: Mathias Woo

Xiqu Director: Zhou Long (Beijing)

Scriptwriters: Zhou Long, Zhang Xin-jia

Ren Jia-le (Wusheng, a martial role) as Linghu Chong

Percussion (recording), voice-over (as Yue Buqun): Zhou Long

Dizi/Dongxiao (recording): Cheng Shing-tai
Guzheng (recording): Chan Tin Chi

A Laugh at the World
Composed by James Wong
Xiao by Ren Jia-le

What baseless claims by such rogues.

They had no shame, adding to the world’s turmoil.

Huashan swordsmanship is of the highest calibre.

Who dares challenge us?

Oh! Looking at it, I feel perturbed.

This sequence is superb and powerful.

Enemies would sense danger and retreat.

Undaunted, they accepted the challenge.

What courage! I’m in awe of them.

Upon further thought, I can’t but feel a sense of dread. 

I can’t but feel a sense of dread.

I recall last year in the twelfth month…

I recall last year in the twelfth month,

all of us disciples practiced in the snow.

We marvelled at the power of “Boundless forest”.

As swords flashed above,

snowflakes filled the sky and earth.

Look at these repulsive poses.

With bodies crouching, they’re unsightly.

I feel a chill. They look hideous.

“Boundless forest” is a true marvel.

This club may look clumsy, but it’s effective.

Although it has a strange shape, it’s strong.

Oh! Suddenly I’m overcome by despair, I want to give up.

Ah! I’m grateful to Elder Feng who taught me

“Nine Swords of Dugu” that enlightened me.

He opened a new vista for me.

Elder Feng, you’re a sword master.

Elder Feng, you’re a sword master.

You’ve provided me with something beautiful.

I learned this sword sequence from you

thanks to good fortune.

Having learnt this skill below the Maiden Peak,

in the coming years

I’ll devote myself to Huashan’s betterment.

Director, Arts Tech Installation: Mathias Woo

Xiqu Director: Ke Jun

Scriptwriter: Yu Sha-wen

Ke Jun (audio-visual) as Yue Buqun
Yang Yang (Kunqu. Nanjing) as Linghu Chong
Dizi/Dongxiao (recording): Chen Huidong

A lonesome spirit, trapped in a small cell. 

Troubled and bothered, my brows furrow

as I brandish my sharp blade.

Recalling my past,

I can’t help but be filled with hurt and anger.

Evil people of the Demonic Cult and

honourable men of righteous schools

were caught together because of you. 

I’m furious that your words were frivolous.

People would blame me for not teaching you properly.

Are good and evil as clearly delineated as black and white?

Or is it like yin and yang, possessing elements of both?

There’s wilted grass in a clear brook.

Lotuses thrive amidst duckweed.

Whichever path we take,

can we separate evil from good?

Traitors often befriend evildoers

thus endangering their own lives.

If you engage with rogues,

you’ll suffer your entire life.

A passionate man, he howled with regret.

But he was a man of his word.

We were both desperate as we gazed at the stars.

I was overcome with grief.

He was mortally injured, and could barely move.

We knew,we knew we’d either live or die together.

We’d bidden farewell to the mortal world.

Immoral, despicable thief!

I won’t believe his crafty lies.

I strike my sword, grind my teeth, I’m resolute.

I won’t believe his tears or his glib words.

My heart is as cold as ice.

I’d thought we’d be partners for life.

Now we are separated.

I’d forsaken the love we shared for years.

I’m alone in the dark, adrift under the cold sky.

Youthful love has passed me by.

My sorrow and tears are to no avail.

I’m overcome by emotions, confused and hopeless.

When will I ever hear your sweet voice?

I’m all alone, tearful and sad.

I had wanted you as my successor in Huashan.

Regretfully, you wilfully betrayed me.

You committed sins, yet didn’t admit your guilt.

You broke our mandates, befriended rogues, 

ruined your reputation.

You followed the wrong path and I reprimanded you.

You were impervious, so I had to be resolute.

I’m severing ties with you; you’re excommunicated.

From now on, you’re an enemy to all of us.

To uphold justice, I ask you the traitor be killed.

I see the path ahead is tortuous.

I miss my Master. Tearful, I lament my life.

I search for him no matter how far we’re apart,

yet he wants me dead.

I feel a cold sweat all over my body.

My heart burns in anguish.

Where’s the bond between Master and disciple?

Familial ties are but nothing now.

The past is ridden with sorrow.

Our bond of Master and disciple has severed.

Our bond has severed.

Suddenly I feel a burden lifting off my shoulders.

Now that I have nothing, I accept this gamble.

Though devastated over my excommunication,

I’ll venture out on my own.

I’ll shed tears and drink wine all alone.

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About ZdX Theatre – Chinese Opera ABC Programme

Original Novel: Jin Yong

Artistic Director, Curator, Director, Arts Tech Installation: Mathias Woo

Xiqu Advisors: Zhou Long, Ke Jun, Kong Aiping

Xiqu Scriptwriter: Zhou Long, Zhang Jing-jing, Yu Sha-wen, Zhang Xin-jia

Performers: Kong Aiping, Ke Jun, Yang Yang, He Xin-yue, Song Bo-fan, Ren Jia-le, Yeung Kin-ping

Music Director, Assistant Artistic Director: Cedric Chan

Illustration: Lai Tat Tat Wing

Live percussion, performing: Zachary Pink YUNG

English Translation: Joanna C. Lee

Senior Manager (Production and Technical): Chow Chun-yin
Technical Producer, Lighting Designer: Mak Kwok-fai
3D Modeling and Set Production: Carmen Cheng
Sound Design: Law Kwok-ho

Video, Live Feed, Server Base Control System: Johnny Sze
Costume Design: Twinny Cheng
Structural Engineer, Installation Executive Designer: Liu Si

XR video shooting: Votion Studios

Stage Manager: Onki Chan
Deputy Stage Manager: Zeta Chan
Sound Operator: Chan Tin-yau
Make-up/ Hair-styling: Lee Wing-hung, Billie Siu, Janet Wong
Wardrobe: Bonnie Chan
Stage Crew: Leung Chi-hang, Wong Sai-tsun Christopher
3D Modeling and Set Production: Vienna Choi, Jessie Lam
Arts Tech Intern / Surtitle: Tang Shu-ting

Key Visual: Lee Ken-tsai

Videography: Lin Kar Ming
Photography: Yvonne Chan, William lee, Apple Lai, Vic Shing, Brain Yiu
Video Documentation: Ricky Cheng

Graphic Design for Promotion: Coco Cheung
Copywriting for Promotion: Song Leung, Seamus Li
Translation for Promotion: Mona Chu

Coding: Cordex Intelligence Limited (Frankie Pang, Derek Tsang, Ronald Shea, Tiffany Leung)

Graphic Design for User interface: Alva Lam

Research: Chuk Yin Man, Zachary Pink Yung

International Exchange Director / Producer: Wong Yuewai
General Manager (Administration and Finance): Jacky Chan
General Manager (Programme): Doris Kan
Senior Manager (Programme): Ho Yin-hei

Project Coordinator: Bowie Chow

Creative Research: Carson Chung
PR & Publicity: Luka Wong
Creative Assistant: Chloe Li
Programme Assistant: Niki Luk
Programme and Graphic Design Assistant: Carol Mak

Link-work Communications

Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Kunqu Troupe

Mr Shi Xia-ming

Mr Zhao Yu-tao

Ms Kitty Yip Kit Hing

Wing Kei Flower Store (HK) Ltd

Ms Hedy Lam

Mr David Lo
Mr Sunny Sun

The Song of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

Nine Swords of Dugu 3

Read Sing the Smiling, Proud Wanderer (Naamyam) 3

6.7-9 Hong Kong Cultural Centre

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