Scene 37: Ascension from the Corpse

【Zheng Gong Prelude · Liangzhou Ling】[Soul in female role enters] Drifting before the wind, my shadow finds no rest, sighing at the road ahead, not knowing where to go. Life and death, separation—both fade far away. We see each other not; our love lingers on; resentment has no end.

【Ru Meng Ling】Peerless charm has utterly vanished; a thin fate needs no further bitter complaint. How can the word "love" be worn away? It embeds itself within my heart. At leisure I drift, under the waning moon and dawn breeze—who comes to ask? I, Yang Yuhuan's ghost, ever since receiving the road permit from the Earth God, have been free to follow the wind as I please. And happily, Heaven does not take me in, Earth does not restrain me—unfettered, quite at ease. Only I can no longer find my way to the Emperor's side, to meet him once more. [In grief] How sorrowful! For now, I'll follow the wind and see where it takes me. [Walks]

【Zheng Gong Tune · Yan Yu Jin】【Yan Guo Sheng Quan】The quiet soul rides the wind like a dream, the road deep and dark, indistinct between dusk and day. Through desolate woods I pause to rest, when suddenly I hear birds chirping in the cold mist—startled, I can no longer stay. Blue ghost-fires flicker over the wild grass; let them light my way as I walk through the gloom. Where is this place? Cloud-shadows cover the eaves of a hall. [Looks] Ah, this is the West Palace gate. I might as well enter and look. [Tries to enter; two gate gods, one with a black face, one with a white face, in golden armor, holding whips and tablets, appear] [Standing on high] "In life, brave and settled the realm; in death, mighty spirit guards the palace gate." [Raising whips and tablets to block the soul] What female ghost dares enter without permission? [Soul produces the road permit] I am Yang Yuhuan, and I have a permit here. [Gate gods] So it is Lady Yang. Now An Lushan has been stabbed, An Qingxu has fled, and General Guo has cleansed the palace. But the Grand Emperor is far away in Shu, and the new Son of Heaven still lingers at Lingwu. Thus the inner palace is silent and empty, all gates locked. Lady, enter as you please; we spirits will withdraw. [Exit] [Soul enters] Look at these palace flowers—all branches of heartbreak; the curtains hang unrolled to the ground. Reaching the painted screen where it winds around—this is clearly where I once received favor with the hairpin and box. [Weeps] [The stage is preset with old bed curtains, furnishings from the palace]

【Er Fan Yu Jia Ao】【Yan Guo Sheng Huan Tou】Hesitant, I recall past splendor. 【Pu Tian Le】[Sits on the bed] I remember when the gold hairpin and jade box were first bestowed, planting this deep grace. Foolish love we guarded together. [Rises] Who knew that cruel disaster would suddenly part us! Alas! See how the Chenxiang Pavilion and Hua'e Tower are all so desolate and cold. [Ascends a tower] No one climbs the painted tower, no flowers bloom as a pair, 【Yan Guo Sheng】no new songs are played—truly, the desolate scene gives birth to sorrow! Grieved, I cannot stop tears from flowing. Ah, this is the Hall of Eternal Life. I recall it now. [Weeps] [The stage is preset with the Qiqiao incense table from the Hall of Eternal Life] This is where I once set out fruits, burning incense at night to pray for skill; there is where he, facing the Cowherd and Weaving Maid, made a secret vow shoulder to shoulder. [Crying] My Emperor! How can I see you even for a moment? The gate god just said the Grand Emperor is still in Shu. Let me slip out of the palace gate, go to Wei Bridge, and gaze into the distance toward Western Sichuan. [Walks]

【Er Fan Qing Bei Xu】【Yan Guo Sheng Huan Tou】Gazing far, a clear autumn scene, [Ascends the bridge] 【Yu Jia Ao】I cannot see the cold clouds and distant trees of Emei's beauty. 【Qing Bei Xu】Bitterly recalling the flight from dust, my shadow lone, my body weary. A sick horse in harsh frost, at the ten-thousand-li bridgehead—I wonder if he is well! Even if unharmed, I think he must have grown thin for me. Let me fly over. [Tries to fly, but is blown back by the wind] [Crying] Ai! Heaven! 【Yan Guo Sheng】I thought my light soul and weak spirit could fly, but who knew the thousand mountains and rivers make the road even longer? [Looks] Ah, see the Buddha hall with its door ajar, the pear tree leaning. How is it that a gust of wind brings me back to within the Mawei Station! [The stage is preset with a Buddha hall and pear tree]

【Xi Yu Deng Fan】【Xi Yu Deng】The station wall cold in the night, a single lamp faintly leaks light. Outside the Buddha hall, a dark wind rises on all sides. See the moonlight dim over the empty stable, 【Zhu Nu Er】suddenly my heart aches, tears fall. 【Yu Fu Rong】Facing this lone pear tree by the eaves, I sit on the ground and weep. 【Yu Jia Ao】This is where my broken fragrance and jade are buried. A fine result from a tangled affair—only a thin reputation remains in vain. 【Yan Guo Sheng】In those days, a rosy cheek, a thousand gold for one smile; today, white bones scattered in a half-buried mound. I think—alive, I received great favor; dead, what regrets could I have? Only that our bond of love was not completed from start to finish. This heart clings stubbornly, unforgettable through ten thousand kalpas.

【Jin Chan Dao Fan】【Jin Chan Dao】Idly I look back; the dream of love, flowers flown, waters gone—only an old love remains. Like the spring silkworm, dying, still draws its silk. At Sword Gate Pass, the detached palace grieves alone; at Mawei Slope, the night terrace waits in vain; I think both share the same long resentment. 【Yan Guo Sheng】When will the gold hairpin and jade box fulfill the former fate, and the Qixi vow incense mend the broken thread?

[Second male role enters] "A decree comes from heaven's edge to inform the ghost below." [Greets] Imperial Consort, the Weaving Maid Goddess comes bearing a jade decree; you must prepare to welcome her. I, the spirit, will withdraw first. [Soul] Many thanks, honored spirit. [They part] [Four female immortals enter, carrying a water jar and banners, leading the actress holding the decree] 【Nan Lü Yin Zi · Sheng Zha Zi】The jade decree descends from Heaven; cranes and phoenixes fly before and behind. Only because the lover is true, he is summoned back to Penglai Immortal Mountain.

[Second male role enters, kneels to receive] The Earth God of Mawei Slope welcomes the goddess. [Actress] Earth God, where is Yang Guifei's soul? Summon her quickly to hear the jade decree. [Earth God] I obey the divine command. [Exits] [Leads the soul, who removes her mourning veil, to kneel] [Actress announces the decree] The jade decree has arrived; kneel and listen. The Jade Emperor decrees: "Whereas you, Yang Yuhuan, were originally the Jade Consort of the Grand Truth, and by chance for a minor fault were temporarily banished to the mortal world; you should not have clung to worldly ties, thus suffering calamity. Now, upon the Weaving Maid's report of your cries to Heaven and repentance, your former karma is cleared, and your true feelings are worthy of pity. You are granted the art of refining form under the Great Yin, restored to the register of immortals, and shall dwell again in the Penglai Immortal Court. Reverently accept and give thanks." [Soul kowtows] Boundless be the Emperor's grace. [Greets the actress] I, the Weaving Maid Goddess, bow in thanks. [Actress] Grand Truth, rise. Long ago, on the seventh night of the tenth year of Tianbao, as I was crossing the river, I saw you and the Tang Emperor in the Hall of Eternal Life, vowing deep love in secret. Yesterday, I also heard the Mawei Earth God recount your sincere repentance, and thus reported it to the Jade Emperor, resulting in this decree. [Soul] Many thanks for your grace in elevating me. [Actress takes the water jar and gives it to the Earth God] This is jade liquid and golden elixir. Take it, and go with the Jade Consort to her grave, pour it over her original body; then she can refine her form, transcend the earth, and ascend through corpse liberation. When the refining is done, prepare music and banners, and escort her back to the Penglai Immortal Court. I will first return the jade decree. [Earth God] I obey the divine command. [Actress] "The carriage returns to the Twin Phoenix Palace; clouds gather around the Seven-Weave Garment." [Leads the female immortals off] [Earth God] Congratulations, Jade Consort. Please come with me to the grave. [Earth God carries the water jar, leading the soul as they walk]

【Nan Lü Guo Qu · Xiang Liu Niang】Heading west of the outskirts, north of the road; heading west of the outskirts, north of the road—I see a small mound. [Earth God] We have arrived. [Soul, in grief] This is where my former life's beauty and fragrance were buried. [Earth God] I, the minor spirit, formerly received a decree from the Great Emperor of the Western Peak to protect your immortal body here. Let me help it out. [Moves toward the ancient door, supporting an actor dressed like the soul, playing the corpse wrapped in a brocade cushion] [Earth God removes the brocade cushion, supporting the corpse to stand] [Soul, startled, sees] Look, the original body is just as it was; look, the original body is just as it was—eyes tightly closed, lips sealed in silence. [Earth God pours the liquid over the corpse] The golden elixir penetrates; the golden elixir penetrates; divine light rises on the face. [The corpse opens its eyes] [Soul] Her autumn eyes suddenly move. [The corpse's hands and feet stir; it stands and takes a step or two toward the soul] [Soul, startled] Ah,

【Qian Qiang】Truly, in an instant it revives; truly, in an instant it revives, moving forward—see the form and face, no different from mine in beauty or ugliness. [Hesitates] Wait—this Yang Yuhuan is already alive; where then does this Yang Yuhuan go? [The corpse suddenly moves toward the soul; the soul stands dazed, facing the corpse] [Earth God claps and shouts] Jade Consort, do not be confused—she is you, and you are she. [Pointing at the corpse toward the soul] This body is her; [pointing at the soul toward the corpse] this soul is you; true nature and false skeleton, before you now, separate of themselves. [The corpse chases the soul in a rapid circle; the soul throws herself upon the corpse, falls, and the corpse vanishes] [Earth God] See the primal spirit entering the body; see the primal spirit entering the body—like a spirit embryo cast anew, the two rings merge into one.

【Anterior Tune】 (The dan rises, stands still, and sings slowly) Just now from deep slumber awaking, just now from deep slumber awaking, my former self has long been lost; form and spirit suddenly reunite together. I startle in thought, bewildered, I startle in thought, bewildered; now that I am Zhuang Zhou, what remains of the butterfly? I, Yang Yuhuan, never thought that today my cold bones would be reborn, and my parted soul rejoined. Truly I thank Heaven! It is like a wanderer returning home, like a wanderer returning home, coming back to his native land, with the house still as before.

Lord Earth, please come forward, allow me to bow in thanks. (Supporting role) The minor deity dares not. (The dan bows; the supporting role returns the bow) (Dan)

【Anterior Tune】I thank you for your years of protection, I thank you for your years of protection, preserving this withered and decayed form, and granting this broken soul and scattered spirit your shelter. (Supporting role) Music and banners are prepared, awaiting to escort the Jade Consort back to the immortal courtyard. (The dan is about to leave but stops) Stay a moment. Now that I am to depart through corpse liberation, when the Emperor returns to the capital, he will surely come to rebury me. I must leave something here as a token. Lord Earth, you may take the brocade mat that wraps my body and bury it still in the grave, taking care not to damage it. (Supporting role) I obey the immortal command. (Takes the mat; the mat falls and floats away) (Supporting role looks) Ah, strange, how strange! That brocade mat has turned into a patch of colored cloud and flown away into the sky. (The dan looks) Oh, I see. Just now, during the refining of my form, the brocade mat also absorbed the golden elixir and thus gained immortal essence. It has become a flying colored cloud, become a flying colored cloud, as if learning to roam like an immortal. What remains to leave for the later world? I think the gold hairpin and jeweled box must be kept close to my person; besides these, I have nothing else... (Thinks) Oh, well. On my breast there is a brocade sachet, bestowed by the Emperor when I danced on the emerald disk. I shall untie it and leave it behind. (Unties the sachet and looks at it) I untie the sachet in my hand, I untie the sachet in my hand, (sadly) if someday my lord should retrieve it, it will be harder to meet again than with others.

(Hands the sachet to the supporting role) Lord Earth, you may place this sachet in the grave. (Supporting role receives it) I obey the immortal command. (Exits briefly, then returns) I report to the Lady: the sachet has been placed. (Four fairy maidens enter, with music and banners, and see the dan) We, the immortal maidens of the Tai Zhen Courtyard on Penglai Mountain, pay our respects. We invite the Lady to change her robes and return to the courtyard. (Music plays within; the dan changes into immortal robes) (Supporting role) The minor deity respectfully awaits to see you off. (Dan) Please return. (Supporting role exits; fairy maidens and dan proceed)

【Single Tune of Wind and Cloud】【One River Wind】Pointing toward Yingzhou, clouds and mist enshroud in emptiness, golden and azure peaks shimmer. 【Dwelling Cloud Flying】Ha, the immortal’s years are long, enduring as deep affection. When feeling is true, through myriad kalpas it remains hard to decay. Firmly I keep the gold hairpin and jeweled box, until atop Penglai Mountain’s peak (descending from the heights)

Consumed is the old fragrance on the breast, (Zhang Hu) Deep feelings and many emotions are hard to forget. (Lu Guimeng) From here to Penglai Mountain, the road is not far, (Li Shangyin) Heaven above and earth below, both stretch vast and dim. (Cao Tang)