Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District｜Butterfly Lovers Concerto

Description

Crown Prince Zhenru is endowed with an extraordinary gift since birth. He can attract butterflies by reciting love poems. He falls in love at first sight with Xiangning, the daughter of the prime minister, and they become engaged. However, on the day of their betrothal, Xiangning exhibits a strange fragrance from her body when she feels emotional, which is considered an ominous sign in ancient times, foretelling the downfall of a kingdom and the destruction of a nation. Xiangning repeatedly rejects the prince's advances. As expected, a palace coup takes place, and Zhenru is imprisoned and demoted to a monkhood. On the eve of their separation, Xiangning surrenders herself to him, and Zhenru breaks his vows. Tormented by his love for Xiangning, he struggles between his monastic and secular lives. Zhenru is sent to provide relief to a plague-stricken area, where he accidentally consumes human flesh and his pure body is defiled. On the contrary, this experience leads him to the realization of the principle of 'all dharmas are created by the mind'. Walking on the filthy bones, he selflessly helps the victims escape the suffering of illness and is revered as a great monk by the people. Zhenru understands that the true king resides not in the palace, but among the common folk. Twenty years later, Xiangning, who is now wrongly believed to have betrayed Zhenru and married the new crown prince, falls ill. Zhenru disguises himself as a monk from the Western Regions and enters the palace to concoct medicine for her. He discovers that Xiangning's son, the current emperor, can also recite scriptures and summon butterflies, and realizes that he is his own son. As Zhenru's true identity is revealed, Xiangning's body suddenly emits a strange fragrance and butterflies surround them once again. Zhenru learns that the loss of his country, family, and love was all due to a ridiculous misunderstanding. The principle of 'all dharmas are created by the mind' comes to life through his own experiences. Zhenru's hatred for Xiangning turns to love, but when he tries to use his twenty years of cultivation to heal her, he finds that his powers have vanished. He could save everyone else but the person he loves the most, and the conflict between self and others pushes Zhenru to the brink of collapse. Torn between enlightenment and confusion, secular and monastic lives, and romantic love, he sings 'Love as Vast as Rivers and Mountains' as a farewell to the dying Xiangning, accusing Heaven of its cruelty in this heart-wrenching moment. Amidst the sorrowful butterfly funeral, Zhenru's tale of a monk in love concludes with the most tragic yet beautiful chapter, one that has never been told before……