Wen Ji

Wen Ji’s return to her hometown

This poster depicts the Peking Opera play titled Wenji Gui Han, which translates as “Wenji Returns to the Han”. The image portrays the protagonist, Cai Wenji, a real historical figure and poet of the Eastern Han dynasty. The story focuses on Cai Wenji, who was kidnapped by Xiongnu nomadic tribes during a period of political chaos and lived among them for twelve years. Later, she was rescued by Cao Cao, who paid a ransom so that she could return to her homeland.

The character is an example of the Qingyi (or Dan) role, the principal female role in traditional Chinese opera, known for representing dignified, serious, and refined women. The artist wears an ornate yellow costume and an elaborate phoenix headdress (fengguan), which is often based on royal attire from the Ming Dynasty, but with creative liberties for the stage.

Peking Opera is an art form that integrates singing, acting, and martial arts. Some iconic elements visible or related to this style include the colors and designs on the face that symbolize different personality traits. On stage, simple objects represent grand actions; for example, a decorated horsewhip is used to symbolize that the character is riding a horse.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges