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| Ying Ruocheng as Liu Mazi (Pockface Liu) in Beijing People's Art Theater's 1958 production of Teahouse (Photograph: courtesy of Claire Conceison and Beijing People's Art Theater. Source: China Heritage Quarterly) |
Please respond to Lao She's three-act play Teahouse, written in 1957 during the first decade of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing.
1. What changes and continuities (if any) are observable across the three acts of the play?
2. What kinds of characters are Wang Lifa, Fourth Elder Chang, Qin Zhongyi, Pockface Liu, and Ding Bao, from your point of view?
3. What is the most memorable scene for you in this play? Why? Please cite a short dialogue or stage description and analyze why it epitomizes the play for you.
Due Wednesday October 30 by 8 pm. Your comments to two other responses will be due the same day by 10 pm.
What fascinated me the most about Lao She’s “Teahouse” was the extreme presence of irony laced throughout all three acts. In each act, we see a different era in modern Chinese history: pre-revolution Qing Dynasty, Republic of China, and pre-People’s Republic of China; this was a span of about 60 years. In each one, I got the picture that one image was never going to go away: hunger and poverty. Each era represents a new time of reform in China – a reform that was supposed to be better for China – but with each time period, despite the status of the government, the presence of overwhelming poverty still pervades.
ReplyDeleteFor example, on page 22, we see Pockface Liu trying to bargain with Sixth-Born Kang about selling his daughter, and Kang can’t help but think about taking the offer because he can’t feed the daughter or himself. On page 36, after the peasant woman and her child go off, Wang Lifa makes this comment: “…its very good of you to buy them noodles, But, you know, there are thousands like them, thousands – and nobody can do anything about it” (36); Wang Lifa is even acknowledging the helpless state of China. In act 2, a group of beggars show up on page 62, and Wang Lifa can do nothing about it because he is also poor and being picked on by state officials. On page 78, Song Enzi – ironically a state official who is doing the bullying – makes a profound comment: “Now we serve whoever puts food in our bellies;” the situation is so dire, that people are committed to whoever can keep them alive for just another day. Looking at act 3, we see immediately that the poverty is still present with Zhou Xiuhua not being able to feed her daughter along with Ding Bao’s helplessness in the pages later.
The most ironic part for me is that almost 60 years past, people are still suffering in the wars,hunger and poverty. There is nothing special changed but the time went through a lot.
DeleteUnder the hunger and poverty, people cannot make choices for themselves. Even the girl who has been sold she have to save her families.
DeleteUnder these conditions people are willing to do anything in order to receive food. It's a natural instinct that is built within every human being where we will go to any extent in order to survive.
DeleteI find ironic too that even though the country was going through all these reforms and events, there was still the same problems people were going through. Even though these reforms were to suppose to change things and make things better, the problem still remain.
DeleteI agree that the story was filled with irony and it was very interesting to read.
DeleteI also agree that this story is filled with irony, but it is more of a trend than irony. If the struggle is constant and the reforms are not changing anything, how is it ironic that everything is staying the same?
DeleteI think the reason some people commented that this unchanging misery is ironic is because all of this happens in a play that is supposed to take place during some periods of intense revolution. The fact that political changes are taking place but that nothing is getting better is a bit ironic.
Delete" In each one, I got the picture that one image was never going to go away: hunger and poverty." I feel just like you,too. Hunger and povety, everyone is poor at that time.
DeleteI really appreciated you pointing out the fact that the Act's in the play were a breakdown of different eras China faced. I would have never of thought of that. Also, I agree with you when saying how Wang Lifa changes his tea house to accommodate the changing state of China. I provide a good quote in my response between the conversation of Wang Lifa's wife and third-born Li have that supports this idea.
DeleteI also appreciated how ironic Teahouse was. With each reform it seemed that things got worse and worse in China yet the people still kept their hope. The younger generation, Little Erdezi, Little Pockface Liu, and Little Soothsayer Yang seem to be even worse than their predecessors. Even Wang Lifa gave up his hope at the end of Act 3.
DeleteThe story happened in a teahouse in Beijing, the big teahouse looks like a small society. There are many kinds of people coming and going from there. The short novel describes the people’s lives from the changing of the teahouse in three different periods. The time of act one is after the Reform Movement of Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and their adherents has failed. Although great changes have taken place in Qing China, the teahouse was “busy” the same. The time of act two is over ten years later, Yuan Shikai is dead, and in the wave of imperialist powers dividing China, people were suffering from war. Yu Tai Teahouse was changed into a college students’ apartment but still blackmailed by the audit team. Act three is after thirty years, the Japanese surrendered but China descended into civil war by KMT and America. The teahouse was forcibly occupied by KMT special agents. American troops were running rampant in Beijing. Everyone is scared at that time.
ReplyDelete“The only thing that might catch the eye at all is the proliferation of “Don’t discuss state affairs” notices --- now in even bigger characters. Along with them there are some new notice: “Pay in advance” ” (Lao She, pp.110) From this we can see that people at that time were living a difficult life and many people lost confidence in life. People used to like discussing state affairs in the teahouse, but now “Don’t discuss state affairs” was written even bigger in the teahouse. “One wrong word can turn anything into “traitor’s property”.” (Lao She, pp. 118) People had to take notice of their own words at that old time, they were afraid of the KMT special agents and American soldiers. “FOURTH ELDER CHANG: I love my country, but no one gives a damn about me.” (Lao She, pp. 182) At that time, many people like Chang loved their country, but they lived a hard life and felt hopeless about the governments.
It is interesting to notice that “'Don’t discuss state affairs' notices --- now in even bigger characters." It may imply that this notice did not work so they trued to made it bigger to make it works.
DeleteYou're right. The people of China loved their country and they felt hopeless in being able to do something for their nation. They stood by their country as they suffered but after 60 years of waiting they get tired. A perfect example of this is when the manager of the Teahouse takes his life at the end of the article. He was seventy years old and couldnt wait anymore.
DeleteGoing off of what your said about the sign, it seems that with each act, certain freedoms continue to decrease for the Chinese; even tough they are moving towards a more developed society, it seems that the government is putting more and more restraint towards thought and expression throughout "teahouse."
DeleteI like your opinion that the big teahouse looks like a small society. There are different kinds of people to visit this teahouse, such as opium people, eunuch and so on.
DeleteYou're right. Chang in this drama's character was very integrity and with a feeling for justice. I think if at that time have more people like Chang, the society will be less dark.
DeleteI agree with your opinion. The teahouse is like a small society, everyone have different background and different character.
DeleteIn Lao She’s play "The Teahouse," corruption which causes citizens to live unhappy lives is consistent throughout the three acts. The state of affairs in China during this era is made complicated by the political and economic aftermath of the 1898 reform. Poverty and prostitution were among the symptoms of economic crisis at the this time. With the fall of the Qing Empire, peasants are forced to sell their own children. This corruption due to bankruptcy, along with the corruption of the police, are consistent throughout the play.
ReplyDeleteThe new generations, however, demonstrates some social changes. The first generation was relatively apathetic about the misery they lived in, or at least were not motivated towards activism. The younger generation, on the other hand, does appear to be showing interest in change. In the second act, the youths form a protest driven by patriotism. In the third act, the students protest with more emotional investment than ever before.
In my opinion, a very key part of the play is the part when we hear the words “I love my country, but who would give a damn about me?” (182). Manchu Fourth Elder Chang says this in response to all of the promises of revolution. For me, this is a memorable statement because it emphasizes the human element. As patriotic and strong as the Elder is in terms of his character, he still feels depressed about his efforts being futile and about the overall uninvolvement of the population for whom he tries to improve things.
It is not enough to have ambition and patriotic. There are many factor that people have to think about such as the social system and condition. People were dying due to hunger and poverty, how could they make a contribution to revolution?
DeleteI love the quote you chose talking about how they feel about their country, “I love my country, but who would give a damn about me?” (182). This is what I focused on in my discussion. They loved their country but they felt as if there was nothing they could do . They were hopeless.
DeleteThe quote shows a lot about the people are feeling. Even though they love their country and want things to become better, they feel as though there isn't much they can do. There is a sense of patriotism but also a sense of an unified country.
DeleteI agree with Shunjiao, there are many more factors to consider than just ambition and patriotism. While the citizens may love their country, they don't feel the country feels the same way about them making it hard for them to really care.
DeleteYou mentioned that corruption causes citizens to live unhappy lives is consistent throughout the three acts. Corruption is not only happened in China at that time, but also throughout almost china history. Even now corruption remains rampant. I think this is a very serious problem in china and our government should do something really useful to deal with that.
DeleteI agree with you.Everyone love country, but they can not afford to go love country this moment.
Delete"Teahouse" from the first act of the Late Qing Reform Movement to the beginning of the second act of the Republic of warlord, has been written to the end of the third act of war. With Lao She's saying: "A big teahouse is a small community." "Teahouse" spiritual crisis of the old era of mass characterization of the main means of drama three key players ---- Wang Lifa, Qin Zhongyi and Chang Siye to complete. Lao through three people, simple, honest and homage tragic fate, the performance of that era weird and ugly.
ReplyDeleteLao She works "Teahouse" article, there are performance servility ideas, such as: (As Fourth Elder Chang and Second Elder Song are on their way out, Song Enzi and Wu Xingzi enter. They still wear grey gowns, but the cuffs are in the new narrow fashion, and they are wearing black mandarin jackets on top of them.) Second Elder Song (recognizing them and automatically going down on one knee to pay his respects): Well. So it’s you two gentlemen. (As if influenced by Second Elder Song, Wang Lifa greets them in the same way, leaving the two nonplussed.)Song Enzi: What’s this? We’ve got a Republic now, how come you still kneel? Haven’t you learned the new bow? Second Elder Song: Whenever I see you two gentlemen’s grey gowns, I think of that time back under the Qing, and I drop to my knee without thinking. Wang Lifa: Same here. The old form of greeting suits me better than the new bow. (P76) This reflects although the time is the early Republic, but people's minds still not a major change, the old thought in people's lives has been entrenched.
I agree with your opinion. Wang Lifa looks like a honest and enthusiastic man, but he is too timid, his thought also remain in the past.
DeleteThe play "Teahouse" told stories happened in "Yutai Teahouse" during the time between late Qing Dynasty and the Communist China for almost half of the centaury. There are three main characters, Wang Lifa, the proprietor of the teahouse; Soothsayer Tang; Second elder Song. People get together in the teahouse to talk about the issues and days all over the country. We can also see how the Government corruption lead to the miserable life of the normal people.
ReplyDeleteFor the main characters, like Wang Lifa, are almost the middle class of the society. For these people, they concerned about the politic issues and their own benefits. Sometimes they sympathy the poor people but for most of times they just focusing on their own lives. The teahouse is like a small spectator of the society, showing the daily lives of Chinese people. The most impressive part for me is the couple who will sell their daughter to the eunuch Pang. In the reading, the little girl cried, "Momma, I'm hungry. I'm hungry. (The woman stares at the girl. Suddenly her legs weaken and she sinks to the floor, sobbing into her hands)" (Lao She, p.35) Form these lines, I can easily tell that as a mother, she felt regrating and hopelessness for that time. The innocent girl showed a huge difference after 10 years which is also shocking. As the most important discipline in the Teahouse said, they are not allowed to talk about state affairs. However, in my opinion, every line is talking about the state affairs. The poor ordinary people; useless Manchurian; rude soldiers are all reflected the state affairs.
I really agree with you that "sometimes they sympathy the poor people but for most of times they just focusing on their own lives". During that period, most people can not live well, they have to focus on themselves first. And they were incapable of helping others too.
DeleteI agree with the comment above. Desperate times require some serious self-absorption in order to survive. Some people even choose to do so at the cost of the happiness or well-being of other people. However, were they really incapable of helping others? I have read many inspiring stories of people helping each other even times were really bad for them, and even at the cost of their own survival. Thinking back to the war stories from previous weeks...
DeleteThere are many changes in the play, but the most prevalent continuity are the letters on the notice that says "Don't discuss state affairs" that keep getting bigger in each act. In Act 2, the teahouse adds lodging and the paintings on the walls are replaced with cigarette advertisements. The teahouse seems to get better in Act 2 during its renovation, but looks run-down in Act 3.
ReplyDeleteWang Lifa is the hard working and honest proprietor of the teahouse who just tries to survive but is driven to commit suicide by the scheming people around him. Fourth Elder Chang is a morally upright man his whole life who buys bowls of noodles for a poor mother and daughter but ends up having to sell peanuts in his seventies. Qin Zhongyi is a good-hearted man who tries to make reform by founding a factory and putting people to work but ends up with nothing by the end of Act 3. Pockface Liu is a scumbag who profits from impoverished families than cannot afford to feed their own children. He charges Eunuch Pang 200 taels of silver for Kang Shunzi but only gives her father 10 taels. Lastly, Ding Bao is good young girl who makes several attempts to help Wang Lifa out, however they fail when Wang Lifa hangs himself.
The most memorable scene to me was the scene between Fourth Elder Chang, Qin Zhongyi, and Wang Lifa at the end of Act 3. Wang Lifa: "Me? My whole life I tried to please everybody. I bowed and scraped to whoever I had to. All I wanted was a decent life for my children - that they have enough to eat and wear, and not have to worry too much about calamity or disease." (Lao She, 178, 180) The talk goes on, but basically anyone they knew that tried to live a good honest life ended up starving to death, getting imprisoned, or getting executed. On the other hand, thugs like Little Erdezi, human traffickers like Little Pockface Liu seemed to be doing very well for themselves by the end of Act 3.
It must have been very discouraging for the Chinese people that the current situation allowed those who oppressed others to prosper, while the people who tried to make an honest living could barely make ends meet.
Delete"Anyone they knew that tried to live a good honest life ended up starving to death;" this is an awesome observation, and is quite sad to ponder on. It seems unfair that people like Pockface Liu are in the better situation because they cheat and steal to get ahead, destroying people's lives, and that people like Wang Lifa live a life of integrity, yet go completely unnoticed by those around him.
DeleteI agree with all of the above comments. This story shows the desperate need for reform that benefits the honest, working class. Those thriving under the current system were not commendable characters in the story, and this frustration leads to Wang Lifa's death, and potentially a symbol for China's demise. Great observation!
DeleteI'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon here... it must've been sad times indeed as oppressors thrived while honest men died. "Men living a good honest life ended up starving to death." Its one of those terrible, tragic truths in this story.
DeleteIn the act, Wang Lifa offers the poor people tea, at the same time, he also offers to rich people. He is nice inside, but because of the cruel truth, he has to be self-centered.
DeleteIt seems that in situations of what would be almost anarchy, trying to make an honest living meant that you were going to get it the worst. It's a situation of survival of the fittest, but like Lifa he wanted to do the right thing and set a good example for his family.
DeleteVincent and Tyler make both good observations that make you question the integrity of the people at the time. The people that were willing to "lose" themselves fared much better than those trying to hold onto their ideals and values. Great post Vincent!
DeleteLao She is a famous writer in China and what he has wrote leaves people a deep impression. Tea house is one of his successful work as well as being act all over the world. In this story, it described everything happened in the tea house so that the change from Late Qing dynasty to the Republic of China can be represented. Tea House show us that the living standard from different classes during that period and different reaction for the combination of tradition and new things in that changing society.
ReplyDeleteI think one scene that impressed me a lot is Eunuch Pang bought a girl to be his wife. It is so pathetic that selling a daughter to improve their living standard or to save the whole family.It is ironical that there are no women's right also women was looked down upon during that time but actually sometimes men would rely on women to make money for them. Why did you need a women to make a huge sacrifice when you think women is nothing? This is a bad tradition which still existed when the society was changing.
That period of social oppression against women is enormous, a woman of that period we can never understand how they are being treated, their pain is beyond our feelings.
DeleteDuring that time, women was looked down upon, and have no right in the society. That resulted a lot of tragedy stories.
DeleteI like your idea. At that time, women do not have social status. The darkness of the society at that time made them destruction without happiness.
DeleteI support your idea about Chinese women is still encounter no rights and freedom to live. China needs to change this situation and women has to be strong enough to face the life.
DeleteI think at that time, Chinese women have no rights. So they cant choose the life what they want. But it does not mean that every mam think woman is nothing. And this is a bad tradition is disappear now.
DeleteIn the first Act, in the year 1898, we see that China has been reduced to a weakened state, a broken population with foreign aggression on the rise, foreign goods, including the infamous commodity, opium, flooding the market. The Second Act takes us twenty years later. The Dynasty has fallen, a Republic has been set up, but the people are worse off than ever. On page 103 in the second chapter, it was a very important conversation when Cui Jiufeng said, “You will in time. The day is coming when China will collapse and we’ll all be enslaved. I was involved in our so called “revolution” – I know what I’m talking about.” Wang Lifa replies, “Then, why don’t you think of something? Do something? To prevent our people becoming slaves.” “When I was young, I thought I had to serve the nation; truly I did. But now I see things as they are. China is finished- dead”, said Cui Jiufeng. This shows the changing trend of how the people of China felt about their nation. In the beginning of these changing times, the people of China were behind their country 100%, Jiufeng even said he was involved in the revolution but now it seems as if the people were over it. They were tired of the hard times and were ready for their nation to be strong contributing nation once again.
ReplyDeleteThe Third Act takes us another thirty years later. After eight years of bitter war against the Japanese, the people didn’t even have time to celebrate China’s victory when a civil war broke out making the political situation become even more cruel and corrupt. The manager of the teahouse, whose only desire in life has been to survive, finally gives up at the age of seventy and in despair, takes his own life. This shows how long the people of China waited for prosperity. Through a span of about 60 years, the people of China overcame hardships from three different Eras of power. The people of China loved their nation but how could they stand by a government who was not looking out for the people? They felt hopeless in the sense of not having a voice for their nation.
I agree with you. There were a lot of reforms in the country, yet the lives of the common people, like Wang Lifa, kept getting worse.
DeleteWaiting for an improvement of the country that you stood so strongly behind was very painful for the people (approximately 60 years). It was right that many people began to give up in the cause since everything just kept worsening
DeleteIt was truly sad to watch Wang Lifa deteriorate over the years. The second act seemed to hold a shining ray of hope, but that was quickly cut down. And the third act just plummeted into despair.
DeleteThey almost lost the social orders, good people kept getting worse, and the bad ones kept getting bad. The government in this drama was always stood at the very top line and any little changes would extremely influenced the ordinary people.
DeleteI agree with Chang Lifan. The reforms did not help to better the lives of the common people. However, it did gave rise to some officials. The leaders just kept on getting more power, this wealth.
DeleteThis is good that you noticed this. I agree that despite many reforms the country's people still suffered.
DeleteIn Lao She’s play, "Teahouse," the central characters are all victims of their circumstances, trying their best to survive and make a living, albeit in different ways. Certainly Wang Lifa, who tries to run an honest business, is a more sympathetic character than Pockface Liu, who tries to gain from others’ misfortune. Still, no matter what method each character tries, his quality of life still deteriorates. As Wang Lifa says, “I’ve done what I could, but I’m afraid our country’s gone to the dogs.” (Lao She, 72) This continuous deterioration, both of political stability for China as well as the quality of life for the characters, is represented by the changes in the stage description of the eponymous teahouse. In Act I, it begins as spacious and well furnished, “with both oblong tables and square ones, and traditional teahouse benches and stools. Through the window an inner courtyard can be seen with more benches and stools…” (Lao She, 12) By Act III, the teahouse is described as “no longer the handsome place it was in the previous act….Everything, from the building itself to the furniture, is dull and shabby.” (Lao She, 110)
ReplyDeleteThe scene that epitomizes the play for me takes place on pages 62-66. Wang Lifa is already in poverty, but adding to his troubles, the soldiers and a policeman, also enduring difficult times, start harassing him for money. No matter what he does, he cannot win. He has to appease the soldiers and the policeman, or he will suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, he simply does not have the money. “I really don’t have a penny left—you can search me if you like.” (Lao She, 66) This scene shows the dilemma that is consistent for the characters throughout the entire play: because of the political corruption and economic hardship, there is simply no way that they can change their dire situation.
I love how you compared political stability and quality of life with the stage descriptions in the teahouse. This is definitely an aspect I did not see at first - good observation!!
DeleteThat scene with the soldiers and policeman was an excellent example of how ridiculously difficult it was to make an honest living during that time. Even a "neutral" place like the Teahouse (No discussing state affairs) is victim to the corrupt officials.
DeleteThe corruptions seems to contradict the idea that China was going through revolution. Even though the people want to unite themselves and make the best out of the ruins from war, people are still too selfish and not unified to do what is best for China as a whole.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed the social commentary woven throughout Lao She’s play, “Teahouse.” Primarily depicting the working and peasant classes, it presents China caught in continual transitions of reform, yet without social and economic improvement for the masses. In the dialogue between Wang Shufen about reform and the teahouse putting on a new face, Third Born Li comments, “Reform! Everything’s taking on a new face, and the newer the face the more faceless it is” (She 54). Although the image of China is changing, especially with foreign influence, key issues remain the same. Thus, China’s reforms are taking on a ‘new face’ with less effectiveness, just masking unchanging poverty. Third Born Li goes on to say, “Madam, you think my queue doesn’t fit in; well, I don’t fit in either” (She 56). This evolving modern culture, for example, men shaving their queues, does not change the root of China’s problems. Third Born Li is lamenting that even if he shaves his queue, he will still remain a poor, hungry man. The commentary in “Teahouse” provides the idea that before the new image of China as ‘modern’ can be legitimate, authentic and successful reform must take place.
ReplyDeleteGood analysis!
DeleteLao She said, “Teahouse represented a small size Chinese society in that age”. From the 100 days reform to the era of the Republic of China, through 50 years, there were many major historical events happened in China. However, Lao She did not describe those events directly, instead, through telling the changes of the teahouse itself and stories happened in it, from another side to reflect the realities and changes of the nation at that time. There were so many characters built in this work and all closely around the teahouse. The author set up three acts and made all kinds of characters successively appear on the stage, according to their activities, dialogues, and internal changes, from describing how they live and how they finally die to reflect that dark decayed era and people’s miseries and tragic fates. Each person had his/her own unique life track and did what had to do naturally based on their particular personality respectively. What I felt about those people was kind of sorrowful and unfair. Good ones could not get rid of the bad lucks, and the scums always bullied others.
ReplyDeleteThere were three characters interested me, Wang Lifa, Fourth Elder Chang, and Qin ZhongYi. Wang Lifa the owner of the teahouse, timid, selfish, smart, good at social intercourse and had his own business philosophy. He always had good attitudes to everyone, even if for some he detested. He improved his teahouse to follow the steps of changes. But all those, could not save his business and his old teahouse. Fourth Elder Chang, he loved Qing, brave and just, and always wanted to do something to save his nation, but could not even got a chance. Qin Zhongyi, a rich guy, he represented the new industrialists and capitalists in that age. He thought the only way to make this nations’ people get a better lives was building industry in China. But finally, his land, factory, and the machines all destroyed by the government. When those three characters finally started singing the funeral song and spreading the paper money of death for themselves in the teahouse, they finally, I thought, were all desperate to the times and their lives. This period could be called “Time of death”. It was heavy to read this.
I think Qin's ending is predicted. Qin the a typical character of national capitalism in the feudalism society.
DeleteLao She is one of the most significant figures of 20th century Chinese Literature, and Teahouse is one of the famous novels in his works. Teahouse took place in a Beijing teahouse, and it depicted the old life in China between 1898 and 1945. This novel shows around 70 characters, which have different backgrounds and different works. (p2-9)This story starts in 1898, during the late Qing Dynasty, and continues in 1916, and finally, the Anti-Japanese War in 1945. Special history background leads to special different kinds of people.
ReplyDeleteThe Teahouse had a unique name that was Yutai. (p10) Yutai means affluence and safety in Chinese. It represents people want to have a peaceful and wonderful life, however, it is a dream because people always struggled and quarreled with other people because of small things. Evidence: “another quarrel has broken out between two gangs; the dispute is said to be over a pigeon. ”(p14) Little Pockface Liu: Proprietor Wang. Old Proprietor. My father’s old friend. Dear Old timer. Director, He’s hung himself. He’s dead!” (p186) Wang didn’t see any peaceful and wonderful life in the end. He was disappointed about this kind of society, and realized Yutai just a dream.
The play "Teahouse," is set in a teahouse in China. The play shows the changes and continuities that China and its people, had gone through in three different time periods with different reforms going on.
ReplyDeletei found it very interesting that the story was told in the same setting but it was placed in different time eras. Although the play, even though the time was changed in each act, there were some problems that remain throughout the play. The same problems that could be seen was the fact there was poverty, hunger, and some kind of war going on. In act one, Kang is thinking about selling his daughter because he is too poor is feed his daughter or himself (pg 22). Even with all the different reforms going on in China, there were things that just didn't change. Not everything stayed the same though. There was some changes. The change that could be seen was the attitude of the people. The first act, the people didn't try to do anything to help change the country or at least weren't very passion about it. But as the play went on, the people began to want change more and had more nationalism.
In “The Teahouse” this drama, the story starts in 1898, during the late Qing Dynasty, and continues in 1916, and finally, the Anti-Japanese War in 1945. Lao She’s Teahouse was lively to open out those events before China liberation.
ReplyDeleteIn act one it talks about in 1898, the hundred Day’s reform was fail. Wang Lifa’s Yutai Teahouse have an excellent business, everything went on wheels. In his Teahouse, posted “don’t talk about national affairs (Motan Guoshi)” this scrip on the wall. At that time, everyone was a little scared about told a wrong word. But Fourth Elder Chang did not care about it. He’s character was very integrity and with a feeling for justice. He was much hit foreigners. One day, he because said “the Qing dynasty will overturn” was into the jail. And at the same time, Pockface Liu who was helped Sixth-Born Kang’s daughter matchmaking to Eunuch Pang. When Sixth-Born Kang know it, he said,” How could I face my daughter if I sold her to be a eunuch’s wife?”(Page 26) Pockface Liu is the social deformity and sociopathy manifestation. Through this way, I know the social culture and political darkness. In the second act, wars between warlords, Wang Lifa’s Teahouse was tough, although he was improve his business, used his teahouse backyard into apartment on loan for college students, but also only can maintain his teahouse. In the third act, it shows after the outcome of anti-japan, the Kuomintang spy and American soldiers were very road in Beijing. Wang Lifa’s Teahouse was worse than before. Only “Don’t talk about national affairs” of scrip is more before and the font is bigger.
Wang Lifa’s image in this drama is little snobbish. For example, when he met the poor people, he will said, “don’t waste my time. I also not take care of myself.”(Page 45) And when he met someone like Qin Zhong, he will said,” Please stay a while. It’s an honor to have you here.”(Page 33). And he also sleek timid and selfish. But he was a very smart and capable of small businessman.
This drama reveals the semi-feudal and semi-colonial of old China’s turmoil, darkness and evil.
The story of Act 3 plays out about 30 years after the first act which by now the people of China are currently suffering. People are forced to do what they can in order to scrape by. There are some that are living an honest life without committing crimes but of course there are also those who are living that are committing illegal acts. The people that are living honest lives are the ones that are suffering from hunger awhile the people who are living dishonest lives are happily going about their daily lives. Wang Lifa was the female that worked at the teahouse and she was living an honest life but she is barely scrapping by. While there was this other couple who had to literally sell their daughter in order to get some form of profit. "Nothing, nothing. Go and look after Xiaohua, Didn't she want some noodles? If there's any flour left, why don't you make her a bowl of noodles? Poor child, she doesn't get enough to eat." (Pg 168 Lao She) shows the situation that they are in. The beginning before she made that comment was that the government officials were coming to take over her teahouse. That added with the daily stress of just trying to survive day to day just makes her more jittery.
ReplyDeleteI can honestly sympathize with the characters in the story because having exerted so much time, money, and effort into a cause that you feel so strongly about just to see that China do horribly afterwards is nothing less than disheartening. I remember from the video that was being shown during class on Tuesday that there was this women who was in the interview said that when she received her two weeks pay, she immediately gave it all up for the cause to better China. How can the people of China back the system when in fact the system is out to get them? The government officials are corrupted and will do anything for their own survival. Though the system was corrupted there were those who still believed that in the end, the true China will rise and this corrupted system will collapse all because of one ideal; hope
The first Act takes place in China in a teahouse during 1898 while the country was in a very chaotic state. The second act takes place twenty years later after the Dynasty has fallen and the Republic has began. However, the people of China are still in a pretty bad state. The story shows how people change over time; at first the people were behind their country in full support, but that has change. The people were ready for a change to make their country a powerful nation.
ReplyDeleteThirty years later, during the third act, immediately after a war with the Japanese ends, a civil war breaks out within the country. The manager of the teahouse, who has been there throughout the store, finally gives up on waiting for China to become a strong, unified nation and commits suicide. The people of China went through many years of hard times and were just waiting for a government that would support the people.
This post shows how China is always in a constant state of struggle and how even though the country has had a lot of good change. Throughout the 60-year period we are reading about China had potential to do great things but it was masked over by the civil wars and lack of the government caring about the people.
DeleteI agree you that the manager of teahouse finally give up waiting for China to become strong and he has to become a tragedy person by China's powerfulness.
DeleteMatthew brings up a good point about the civil wars and lack of government masking the potential for China to step up. I couldn't imagine going through 60 years of war and poverty and trying to stay optimistic.
DeleteI agree with your response, and I also noticed the gentle change occurring. The story portrays China's society simply waiting to transform. Many years of struggle and many deaths for a cause that has yet to happen.
DeleteI thought this was a good response to the reading. A brief summary of the story
DeleteI agree with you as well as the other responses to this post regarding the subtle change and struggle causing that change over a long period of time.
DeleteThis is a good comparison to describe the era. The government is very lacking when it came to this.
DeleteTeahouse was written by Lao She (Shu Qingchun) in 1957. The story happened in a teahouse in Beijing, and after “the Reform movement of Kang Youwei, Liang QIchao and their adherents has failed”(Lao She P7). The teahouse is similar as a little society. People are from different social class. Wang Lifa is the proprietor of the Yutai teahouse. He is very social and sagacious. He knows every customer. Fourth Elder Zhang is well-built and morally-upright man. From the dialogue between Zhang and Er Dezi (Laoshe, P 18-19), Zhang extremely hates the foreigners. This point indicates that Chinese was suffering from the foreigner’s power. Pockface Liu was the typical negative character in the story. Liu is totally opposite of Zhang. Liu wears western suit and watch, and he spends more money smoking optima. Qin Zhongyi is my favorite actor in the story. He wants to save China.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part in the story is from page 36 to 38. The part shows Qin’s personality. Qin said: “ Not only am I going to repossess mu buildings, I am going to sell off my farmland and my establishments in the city as well.” “To consolidate my capital and start a factory”. “Mmm! A huge, a really huge factory. That’s the only way we will save the poor, the only way we will keep out foreign goods, and it’s the only way to save the Empire.” Qin is a follower of the reformists. However, he failed under the feudalism power. Qin’s fate is a typical character of the national capitalist class in China.
We start off “Teahouse” by Lao She in, well, a teahouse. In Act One the teahouse is lively, serving small meals like noodles with minced pork as well as, of course, bowls of tea. Hanging from the walls are signs of caution “Do not discuss state affairs.” [pg. 12] As we enter Act Two, the teahouse has changed drastically. Reformation has begun. The teahouse now has lodgings in the back and no longer serves meals. The signs of caution have become larger and there are now foreign advertisements for cigarettes hanging on the walls. The tables in front have become smaller and are less grand. [pg. 54] In Act Three the teahouse begins to scrape the bottom of the barrel. The tables and chairs are merely stools and benches and the signs have grown even larger as well as the addition of “Pay in advance.”; the teahouse is dull and shabby, it looks run-down.
ReplyDeleteAn intriguing scene is the return of Kang Shunzi to the teahouse in Act Two. [pg. 88] In Act One we see her being sold to Eunuch Pang to be his wife. [pg. 48] She returns after the reformations left Eunuch Pang powerless and he passed away. Eunuch Pang’s nephews took all that he had and threw out Kang Shunzi as well as her adopted son Kang Dali. (Over ten years passed between the two acts). Kang Shunzi enters with a great anger towards Pockface Liu, as he was the one who arranged for her to be sold off. Wang Shufen, whom runs half the teahouse, decides to give her employment. [pg. 94]
The irony present in “Teahouse” is extremely apparent in all three of the acts throughout this great play. This is a play that shows 60 years of “Change” in china and stretches throughout different eras. Even though the play has different acts that show the different times, the same struggle is apparent. Although the people of China are always trying to have change occur in their society they are always dealing with death, hunger, and poverty. Although the change is always supposed to be better the people of this fighting nation always continue to face the same problems.
ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view all of the characters are from different generations in time yet they all want to change China for the better. Although they all have a slightly different idea on how to change China they apparently need it in their lives. The different reform names all have the same underlying tone that will eliminate poverty and lessen the load on the backs of China’s poor people.
I thought that the third act as a whole was memorable, not one scene describes this entire act. This act shows how even though China is victorious against Japan they have no time to celebrate. Civil war breaks out shortly after the victory, and takes the country right back to a state of suffering. The 60-year span we see during the play shows that even though the people of china always have what is best in mind for the country, the government like in past years only wants what is best for them. This leads to civil war within the country like we see in act three and a constant unrest of the people of a nation that has more potential than any others during this time to be great.
Qin Zhongyi was one of my favorite character in this stage drama too. He represented the advanced capitalist at that chaotic period. He changed his family business to western style factory aiming to improve and save the weak traditional nation. yes, he was one of the typical follower of the "reform", and his tragic ending reflected the dark and cruel of the time. Both late Qing and the Republic.
DeleteLao She’s Teahouse focuses on the changing of the setting of China that influence different level of people. At the beginning of each act, it gives readers information that China experiences the failure of Hundred Day’s Reform (act1), the incited warlord’s control (act 2) and the success of defeating Japanese.(act3). Lao She has clearly description that teahouse is simple and unsophisticated. Then it change to modern style and becomes crude and decay at the end of the scene.
ReplyDeleteWang Lifang’s characteristic is careful, capable and experience person but he is timid sometimes. He represents most of civilian in China encounter the unfair situation and fall on tragedy fate. Fourth Elder Chang is a brave, stubborn has good sense of justice person. Qing Zhongyi is rich but has no sympathy to poor people. Pockerface Liu is representing the disease social system in China.
The most impressive scene for me is when Fifth Elder Ma said to Erdezi “you are quite something!”(P18). Erdezi shocked by Ma’s argument because Ma works for foreigners and Ma’s right reflects the existence of imperialist-incited warlord’s power.
I agree with your close reading on the meanings of the characters and what they represent. I also liked the scene you describes as the one that impressed you the most, as being in the very beginning of the play it is a very fast pace and bold opening.
DeleteThe play, "Teahouse" follows the lives of many characters over the course of roughly 50 years and how they have all interacted in the setting of the teahouse, owned by Wang Lifa. The teahouse changes a lot over the years, even though it starts off in a time when the peasant class is in severe decline and is being forced to sell of their own children. The teahouse is pretty large and well off, serving tea and meals to customers. In act two, the teashop has converted the back half into a lodging area where they house mostly students. The teahouse has nice chairs and tables with tablecloths on them so that it appears class, trying to keep business although it s declining. Traditional paintings have been replaced with foreign cigerette adds as well. The third act, the teahouse has declined dramatically, with poor furniture and failing business. Throughout the changes of the teahouse, one that should be closely noted is the increasing size of the posters stating "Do not discuss political affairs." We watch the characters grow older and deal with the problems of the constant political change and problems. The main character, Wang Lifa is the owner of the teashop who does whatever he can to keep its doors open. I think he is an interesting character, because he is trying his always trying his best and to do what is right.
ReplyDeleteA scene that really stood out to me was near the end of act one, when Sixth-Born Kang brings in his daughter to sell her to Eunuch Pang, and she faints. He professes that he is not a real man and is very distraught over his decision. What I found shocking was the lack of human compassion for Kang Shunzi by Eunuch and the teahouse patrons. "I want something living-not a corpse" (Lao She, 50). He does not even care that she is so hungry that she has fainted. He was just concerned with buying a human for his own needs. The last line, from a man playing chess, is "Checkmate. You're finished!" (Lao She 50). Adds to a somewhat comic relief from an intense moment, but also shows how people were just used to witnessing those around them starving and suffering from the current times. The story itself is truly sad, especially with Wang Lifa taking his own life in the end.
The play “Teahouse” takes place in on of the few teahouses left in Beijing at the time. The teahouse is owned by Wang Lifa who had to takeover the family business young due to his father’s early death. Along with him there are many other characters like the Fourth Elder Chang, Qin Zhongyi, Pockface Liu, and Ding Bao. Each character has a distinct personality that fits well into the play, but one thing I noticed was how every character becomes submissive around a person of higher stature. Wang Lifa is especially known for this because he uses it as a business technique to keep the regular customers happy throughout all three acts. We also see that Wang Lifa tries to keep the teahouse a neutral place with signs of caution stating, “Do not discuss state affairs.” (Page 12) This is a common theme throughout all three acts as well, but the signs become larger with each renovation of the teahouse in each act. The most memorable situation in this play was the conversation between Pockface Liu and Fourth Elder Chang talking about the countryside and its increasing poverty.
ReplyDelete“Fourth Elder Chang: ‘What’s going on in the countryside, that people are driven to sell their children?’
Pockface Liu: ‘Who knows? But the way things are, even a dog would prefer to be born in Beijing.
Fourth Elder Chang: ‘Elder Liu, you must really be ruthless to make your living at this trade.’
Pockface Liu: ‘If it wasn’t for me maybe they wouldn’t find buyers…’”
This conversation was memorable to me because things were getting so bad that no one could buy food and were brought to selling their children as prostitutes just to feed themselves.
"every character becomes submissive around a person of higher stature"- I like this comment and noticed it as well while reading. This is a great response and points out great key aspects.
DeleteYour responses really show that you have read the pieces. I liked the conversation you posted, it was memorable for me as well.
DeleteThe story of the teahouse talks about many people's stories. Such as Wang Lifa wanted to let father's teahouse bacome better, then he ask for help. But the harsh reality let he failed. Finally he despair of the realistic society. And the story about Qin Zhongyi, he often goes to teahouse. Qin was a guy who wanted to save the country and from the rich to the bankruptcy; also the story about Fourth Elder Chang took care himself after the demise of the Qing Dynasty, teahouse also talks about Liu Mazi and other people's stories.
ReplyDeleteThe story takes place in a teahouse in Beijing. Many different kinds of people are in there, this teahouse just like a small society. Lao she found the specil point in this teahouse and wrote a lot of the representative figures. These stories took half a century of time in this teahouse. From different era in modern Chinese history: pre-revolution Qing Dynasty, Republic of China. summarizes the contradictions in Chinese society each class and forces, revealing half the feudal, semi colonial China historical destiny.
This is a very good summary of the play, I think that it is so enjoyable because of all the different stories and perspectives that it tells. Showing the different people that were affected during this time in China.
DeleteThe play occurs in Wang Lifa’s teahouse, a man I believed to be like a political official. He is smooth with his words and knows exactly how to manipulate people. This can be seen multiple times through all the acts. Some examples include Act I where he must manipulate Qin Zhongyi his landlord from repossessing the tea house, or even in Act II where the soldiers came to his teahouse demanding for “silver” money and food. Even though he is eventually driven to suicide, he meant well. He knew in Act II if he did not keep up with the western change that was overwhelming China, his teahouse would die.
ReplyDeleteThis change that China was facing is present even in the early part of Act I. In Act I, it is apparent that even though China was faced with change (especially westernization), they were still trying to maintain and keep their culture and traditions alive. This is shown through the many examples provided through Act I. For example, when Fourth Elder Chang is speaking to Pockface Liu he states, “What I’m trying to figure out is why we all have so many foreign things. Old Liu, look at yourself; a foreign snuff bottle, a foreign watch, a gown of foreign satin, and a jacket and trousers of foreign cotton”(26-28). Here not only do we see the moral upright Fourth Elder Chang has, but also how the change China faced with westernization was still not accepted by many. As the act moves on, we again see how China was really battling against this idea of change. When Eunuch Pang (the rich palace eunuch) enters the act and is asked by Qin Zhongyi if he has been well the past couple of days he responds “That should go without saying. Order has been restored. The Imperial Edict has come down: Tan Sitong has been given the death sentence. I tell you, anyone who takes it into his head to change the statues laid down by our ancestors is going to lose his head” (56). These two quotes show the strong retaliation the government officials and strong hearted Chinese people felt at the time. They were not going to give up easily.
The most memorable scene and the change that occurs between Act I and II. From Act I we see China’s officials and people in a strong stance against the westernization they were facing. However in Act II, we quickly see many people, including Wang Lifa and his wife. In the beginning of Act II, we see how Wang Lifa’s wife, Wang Shufen and Third-Born Li get into an argument that leads to the discussion of China and how it has changed. Wang Shufen says “Don’t be so obstinate, third elder. When the’ve reformed our country and created a democratic state called the Republic of China for us, don’t we have to reform too? Isn’t it much cleaner and nicer now that we’ve fixed the place up? And isn’t it more dignified to be looking after educated customers? Your insistence on keeping that queue just doesn’t fit in at all” (56). Seeing this discussion between the two, especially from Wang Lifa’s wife shows how both Wang Lifa and his wife felt. To keep up with the current times, they had to change. Giving up their old traditions was a necessity in the survival of themselves and the teahouse. The reason this scene was so memorable was because it showed how quickly the tides turned in ten years. Just in these ten years, China was reformed and many people lost their fight against the westernization.
Act III just supports what happens in Act II. We continue to see the poverty struck country and the inability of people to survive. Throughout the play it is a good visual representation of the changes China faced during the time.
The story of a Beijing teahouse in the middle of a economic struggle within China is incredible for a story because it really shows how it was. and what poverty was like then The times were that of difficulty and everyone fended for themselves. times were hard and you had to know how to survive in order to…well, survive. This speaks to me because the part of the city I'm from it was the same way. You take care of yourself or get pushed aside. How you survive is different though. In the sort all the people do it different whether it be honest work or something that most might not find much pride in. When you're living that life you're only liable for yourself and those you care for. This is how change comes about. People talk. Whether it be outside in your neighborhood or in the local teahouse. They characters in this story show how this very thing happens. They saw their country's future being decided for them and decided to discuss better, newer, and more innovated ways that a society could operate. The places in which real and true ideas are openly and honestly discussed are often times those that the wealthy or the government considers "a slum or ghetto". This is so true for what happens in this story. It happens in a old, dusty, and shabby teahouse whose customers are the common people. This story also shows how unevenly the balance of power was distributed among the ruling party of China at that point in time. Very unstable and corrupt and full of death and poverty. It truly is a story of reflection upon oneself.
ReplyDeleteTeahouse is a famous play written by Chinese writer Lao She. In this fiction, Lao She vividly describes the rise and fall of a teahouse. Across the three acts of the play, common people’s life is very hard because of foreign invasion, regime change and social instability. In addition, in the second act of play the classical teahouse became new-style teahouse, and in the third play it finally became a humble teahouse. However, there is one thing that never changed, which is the proliferation of “Don’t discuss state affairs” notices. Wang Lifa is the protagonist in this fiction. I think he basically is a honest and virtuous person, he focused on his own work, he tried not to offend people, but he is too timid. Fourth Elder Chang is a integrity and laborious man, he earns his own living, and he has patriotic ardour. Qin Zhongyi is a follower of the Reformists, he contends save the nation by engaging in industry, he’s a patriotic youth. Pockface Liu is a greedy, dastardly and loveless person. He only cares about his own benefit. Ding Bao is a smart and brave girl, she brave honesty, dare to fight against dark forces.
ReplyDeleteThe most memorable scene for me is Fourth Elder Chang back to teahouse, he said “Now, every day I’m up at dawn and get together two baskets of vegetables, and by mid-morning I have them all sold. Because I earn my own keep I’m healthier than them. I’m a Bannerman. Bannermen are Chinese too!” ( Lao She, Teahouse, Act two). During that period of chaos, most people only cared about their own life and benefits, but Fourth Elder Chang had patriotic ardour, he wanted to save this country. He earned his own living, distressful lives made him became stronger. I appreciate his struggling spirit, he is a strong-willed man.
I thought this was a good response. Good quotes
Delete“Teahouse” is a play that tells the story of the daily lives that many people lived and how the corrupted government had failed its people. The three main characters, Wang Lifa, Qin Zhongyi, and Chang Siye all lived in different lives but unit in the teahouse to discuss the things in society. An ironic sign in the teahouse says to not discuss political issues. However, people often talked about the government and how the society is suffering.
ReplyDeleteA memorable quote I recalled from the play was from Cui JiuFeng. He says, “You will in time. The day is coming when China will collapse and we’ll all be enslaved. I was involved in our so-called ‘revolution’-I know what I’m talking about pg 103.” From this quote, we can see that Cui has no faith in the Chinese government. The revolution that is happening is not giving the general population faith. The mass thinks its just some act that the government is putting on. Real changes are hard to enforce when the nation is so weak and not unified. I can understand how Cui can felt this way during that time. Many people’s lives were very hard. There was often not enough food to be passed around. From this play, the revolution that was taking place at that time seem to played a little role in the people’s minds.
I thought that Lao She's "Teahouse" was a very interesting play. I really enjoyed how it conveyed the thoughts and opinions of people from different societal classes in China through their discussions and actions in the teahouse as things were changing during these times.
ReplyDeleteOne of the parts that I found to be most interesting was when Song Enzi and Wu Xiangzi arrive on page 44 of the first act of the play and question Fourth Elder Chang and Second Elder Song on their allegiances based on their statements made in a private conversation. Having lived in America my whole life, I cannot imagine such an event taking place, let alone an arrest as a result.