The Flower Princess Part 1

Überblick

The Flower Princess is a fictional story about Princess Changping of the Ming Dynasty and her fiancé, Zhou Shixian.

Princess Changping and Zhou Shixian were betrothed by imperial decree. However, as the Ming Dynasty falls, her father, the Chongzhen Emperor, is overthrown by rebel forces. Although the Princess survives the collective suicide of her father and his court, she is forced to hide her identity and enter a life of seclusion until she unexpectedly encounters Zhou Shixian again.

Zhou Shixian plans to help the Princess petition the Qing Emperor for permission to bury her father’s remains and to release her brother. On condition for this request, the Princess must publicly express gratitude and submission to Qing rule.

Ultimately, the Qing Emperor allows them to return to their former home for a wedding after burying Changping’s father. On their wedding night, at the place where they first fell in love, the couple drinks poison together to honour their country, demonstrating their loyalty to the fallen dynasty.

This Cantonese opera portrays the power struggle between Han and non-Han rulers during the transition from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, interweaving themes of love amid chaos and the conflict between Confucian ideals of social hierarchy and moral integrity.