The animation, The Fourth Cry of the Monkey, is based on Xu Wei (徐渭)’s play The History of the Mad Drummer: Crimes of Cao Cao (狂鼓史), and the folktale Legend of the White Snake (白蛇传)
By recreating the beautiful landscapes of famous Chinese historic sites, including Three Gorges Dam Area( 三峡流域 ) and Kun Mountain （昆山）in southern China, the work is intended to unveil the geographical connections of a series of political and historical incidents, and the implications of those phenomena, therefore to arouse awareness of certain consequence within this culture, which is seemingly unique, profound, inevitable and cruel, or, the history of conflicting between individuality and dominant class on this piece of land.
Lily & Honglei - Asian American Artist Collaborative 
2 replies on “The Fourth Cry of the Monkey （四声猿）”
Xu Wei (徐渭) & The History of the Mad Drummer: Crimes of Cao Cao (狂鼓史)
Xú Wèi (徐渭) (1521 – 1593) was a Ming Chinese painter, poet and dramatist famed for his artistic expressiveness. Revolutionary for its time, his painting style influenced and inspired countless subsequent painters. Xu Wei can be considered as the founder of modern painting in China. His influence continues to exert itself. Despite his posthumous recognition, Xu was manifestly mentally ill and unsuccessful in life, ending his life in poverty after the murder of his third wife and several attempts at suicide.
Xu Wei was also a poet in shi style of considerable note. Of the various arts Xu Wei practised, he held his calligraphy in highest esteem. In addition, Xu was a relatively unknown playwright, authoring The Fourth Crying of the Monkey, including the chapter of The History of the Mad Drum : Crimes of Cao Cao (狂鼓史).
Copyright & Resource Links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
The Story of The Mad Drummer – Mi Heng 弥衡
Mi Heng 弥衡 (173 – 200 A.D) was a reputable scholar during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He was a close friend of Kong Rong, who recommended Mi Heng to Cao Cao. Lord Cao Cao summoned Mi Heng to the capital of Xuchang but did not offer Mi Heng a seat. Indignant at this Mi Heng sighed “In all this world, I can see not a single man!”, Cao Cao overheard this, and named many officers in his command who he believed to be great heroes. Mi Heng scoffed at these men not believing them to be great heroes.
When Mi Heng was questioned about his talents he replied “I have mastered the patterns of heaven and the contours of the land. I know well the Three Religions and the Nine Systems of Philosophy. With virtual equal to that of Confucius and his dear disciple Yan Yuan, I could make my prince rival of Kings Yao and Shun. Think you I can discuss these things on even turn with common people?”.
At this Cao Cao made Mi Heng a drum master to play at the imperial court. The previous drum master warned Mi Heng to turn up dressed in fresh attire, however Mi Heng arrived dressed in shabby robes and played Triple Tolling of Yuyang, so beautifully that the guests were reduced to tears. Half way through the piece, a court attendant asked why he hadn’t changed his clothes, Mi Heng stripped naked, angering Cao Cao. Kong Rong fearing for his friend’s life as well as his own, pleaded with Cao Cao to spare Mi Heng, so Cao Cao sent Mi Heng to Jingzhou, promising that if Mi Heng could win Liu Biao’s support, he would be made a high ranking official.
At Jingzhou Mi Heng sung praise of Liu Biao in a tone so ironic that Liu Biao was angered. Liu Biao sent Mi Heng to his friend Huang Zu, who executed Mi Heng after Mi Heng compared him to a temple god — much praised but practically useless. Liu Biao, deeply upset at Mi Heng’s death, recovered his body and had him buried at Parrot Island near Yingwu.
Copyright & Resource Links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.