Museum's multimedia show brings ancient past to present

Now, the special performance, produced in collaboration with the Peking Opera Protection and Inheritance Center of Hunan, leads visitors on a journey through the site's vibrant history, placing the artifacts on center stage.

To ensure historical accuracy in depicting the life of Lady Dai, Chi drew on extensive research and consultation with museum experts.

The narrative focuses on her role as a devoted mother, raising her son and preparing him for battle.

Ge Qianqian, deputy director of the Peking Opera Protection and Inheritance Center of Hunan, said that performers would go back and forth to the museum displays to learn how to reproduce the correct expressions, mannerisms and movements based on ancient figurines. Their observations have been woven into the way they sing, recite and act during the performance.

According to the museum, the show makes use of 3D modeling and one-to-one replicas of artifacts to create most of its props, costumes and other elements. The costumes worn by the performers are closely based on ancient garments unearthed at the site, and were thoroughly examined by the museum's experts before being approved.

"I had just been to the tomb exhibition, so when I returned to see the play, Xin Zhui seemed more real to me. Her devotion to her kingdom was impressive," one college student remarked after watching the show.

Xinhua