On the evenings of April 28 and 29, the large-scale dance epic drama "The Book of Songs · Gesar" was spectacularly staged at the Jincheng Princess Theater. This production, which blends the two cultural treasures of The Book of Songs and Gesar, drew a large audience.

As the oldest anthology of poems in the Central Plains region,The Book of Songs carries profound cultural heritage of the Han ethnicity; whereas The Epic of King Gesar, currently the longest epic in the world, is hailed as a treasure of Tibetan culture.

In 2022, the Nagqu Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government began meticulously planning to ingeniously merge the two classics, The Legend of King Gesar and The Book of Songs, to create a brand-new epic stage production. During the creative process, the production team delved deep into exploring the similar cultural elements in both works, such as totems, musical instruments, songs and dances, and lifestyle habits, putting significant effort into achieving harmony, integration, and aesthetic beauty. They used the characters of the poem collectors from The Book of Songs and the bards of The Epic of Gesar as the explicit narrative threads, and "fire, water, skillfully weaving these cultural elements together. By utilizing high-tech digital means to present the backdrop imagery, they truly enabled the audience to profoundly perceive the interactions, exchanges, and integration of China's diverse ethnic cultures amidst shared aesthetic appreciation. This production vividly expresses the historical fact that Chinese cultures share a common origin, and powerfully embodies the theme of multiple ethnic groups jointly forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Directed by a renowned director and crafted by a professional team, this production opens with "The Light of the Milky Way" and unfolds in three major chapters - "Origins, Journey, and Dreams" - comprising a total of 15 acts. It progressively showcases the profound cultural integration between the Han and Tibetan ethnicities. Previously, the drama has been staged in cities like Hangzhou and Beijing, garnering numerous accolades and enthusiastic responses. This time, its journey to Lhasa represents a cultural quest for roots and a commitment to heritage, making it an event of extraordinary significance.

Liu Zhouming, the chief director of the drama, told reporters that in the past nearly three years, creating and integrating The Book of Songsand Gesar together has brought about many thoughts on the development of Chinese civilization.

Actress Chonyi Serzhuo said that she was shortlisted for the drama through an open audition. "From rehearsal to performance, it took half a year. This process was very hard but also very happy. Through this performance, I have gained a deeper understanding of stage dramas. I hope to continue doing the things I like in the future.”

Actor Padma Shita said, "through the large-scale dance epic drama 'The Book of Songs·Gesar', I deeply understand that the rehearsal and performance of this drama is an invaluable asset in my artistic career.I am infinitely grateful for the guidance and dedication of all the directors and producers, as well as the joint efforts of all the participants."

Reporter: Zheng Lu, Feng Linlin, Phuntsog Norkyi

Translator: Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hong Rongguo, Dong Xiuli