Synopsis

A Vessel Sailing from the Historical Time and Space...

A vessel loaded with gifts from King Louis XIV is sailing toward the Oriental Empire. With pro-found background in science, philosophy, astronomy, geometry, arithmetic, and humanism, the French missionary-ambassador Joachim Bouvet elicits Emperor Kangxi’s interest in European science and medicine. On the Observatory of the Forbidden City, Emperor Kangxi looks into the sphere with a telescope. He muses to himself, “What kind of king is this Sun King of France, who commands the spotlight of the entire Europe while advocating fanaticism for things Chinese?”

At Versailles in France, a fantastic masquerade is being held. Dressed in gold, King Louis XIV boasts of his china house made of porcelain to the nobles. Gazing at China’s reciprocal gifts, all made in re-fined silk and porcelain, he recalls how Kangxi is praised by Bouvet: a sovereign equipped with each and every strength above everyone else. He asks himself, “What kind of king is this Kangxi, deemed one of the best rulers around the world?”

Scene 1: Grand Voyage

·A vessel from the Sun Kingdom of the West sails into a harbor of China.

·Joachim Bouvet, a Jesuit missionary-ambassador assigned by King Louis XIV, arrives in Beijing.

·Mingzhu, China’s Prime Minister Grand Scholar, welcomes him.

Scene 2: The Forbidden City

·Emperor Kangxi finishes his autumnal hunt at Mulan Park, ready to go back to the capital.

·In the royal palace, all the officials wait in their respective places to welcome the Emperor’s return.

·Bouvet presents Kangxi with a letter from Louis.Kangxi is surprised and intrigued by the astronomical, mathematical, and scientific devices offered by the French ambassador.

·Kangxi picks up a telescope and asks if it is daytime in France.

·Bouvet answers that it is evening at Versailles, where a grand masquerade is about to start.

Scene 3: Le château de Versailles

·In France, noble lords and ladies richly dressed attend a grand ball.

·To everyone’s admiration, Louis proudly demonstrates a new dance step he has created.

·Madame de Maintenon, Louis’s mistress, leads the celebration and praises his accomplishment.

·Moliére, the court comedian, stages a sarcastic drama, making fun of upper-class hypocrisy.

·Unoffended, Louis opens a china house of his design, which stores precious gifts from Kangxi.

·Louis wonders if China is like a fairyland.

Scene 4: Merry Spring Garden

·Against the music of a flute, the fairies dance in the peach woods.

·Drums and cymbals sound. The Monkey King and his gang come to steal the heavenly peaches.

·It is the birthday celebration of the Empress Dowager. The Monkey King on stage presents a peach to her, wishing her longevity.

·The next play is The Palace of Eternal Youth, which reminds Kangxi of his deceased queen. The Empress Dowager tries to comfort him. They recall how they have managed to overcome crises.

·Kangxi presents the Empress Dowager a surprise: the Manchu-Han Full Banquet, a symbol of har mony among all races. He then leads all to wish her longevity and pray for the country’s peace and prosperity.

Scene 5: The Hall of Mirrors

·At Versailles, in the Hall of Mirrors, Louis is deeply impressed by Bouvet’s biography of Kangxi.

·Queen Anne, Louis’s deceased mother, appears in the mirror, and Louis recalls how they suffered inexile. Thanks to his mother’s inspiration and guidance, he survived the difficulty and came back to rule.

·Bouvet and Moliére also appear in the mirror. Louis looks into the future, swearing to make France a great country of culture, art, and science.

·Louis wonders if Kangxi is also speculating the art of rule at this moment.

Scene 6: Imperial Study

·Late at night, Kangxi is still working under candle light. He thanks Bouvet’s quinine, which saved his life.

·Kangxi calls Bouvet, Mingzhu and others to go up the Observatory with him.

Scene 7: Unceasing Universe and Unceasing Mind

·The sun shines over France. Louis is surrounded by royal guards, officials, artists, and ladies.

·He sits on a white horse, posing for an artist.

·Kangxi and Louis both sing their visions and aspirations, echoed by officials and ladies from East and West. Though apart, both East and West share the same hope for peace and blessings.