《霸王别姬》
故事来源:西汉(公元前206年--公元25年)史书《史记》 时间:秦代(公元前221年--公元前206年)末年 地点:中国的北方 主要人物:项羽(楚国贵族、将军) 虞姬(项羽之妃)
西楚霸王项羽与汉王刘邦争夺天下。项羽年轻气盛,勇猛善战,出生入死,所向无敌。刘邦颇有心计,善用智谋,手下有一批聪明能干的谋士和将军。为了战胜项羽,刘邦听从谋士的建议,联合各地英雄,一齐围剿这个骄狂的西楚霸王。他们首先烧毁楚军的粮草营地,又派谋士李左车假装投降,骗取项羽信任,诱其出兵,然后设下十面埋伏的三十万军队。果然,有勇无谋的项羽,不顾别人的劝阻,听信李左车,贸然出兵,损失惨重。
大败而归的项羽,脸色铁青,一语不发。妃子虞姬强做欢颜,设酒劝慰。项羽望着自己心爱的战马和美丽的女人,意识到这样团聚的时光不多了,便唱起悲壮苍凉的歌曲。虞姬穿起华贵漂亮的衣饰,手持宝剑,边舞边唱,为丈夫解闷。深夜,汉军包围楚军,还唱起了楚地的民歌,涣散人心。(中国的成语“四面楚歌”一词即出于此。)楚军如惊弓之鸟,无心恋战。虞姬催促项羽突出重围,退回家乡,日后再图大举。自己拔剑自刎,以绝项羽后顾之忧。
项羽经过一夜的艰苦拼杀,终于突出重围,只身一人来到江边,望着滔滔江水,觉得无颜回到家乡去见父老兄弟,便把战马推入江中,带着深深的遗憾,自刎江边。
Farewell My Concubine
Origin:Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) historical compilation, The Historical RecordsTime:The last years of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)Place:Northern ChinaMain characters:Xiang Yu (overlord of the State of Chu)Yu Ji (Xiang Yu's concubine)
Xiang Yu, overlord of the State of Chu, and Liu Bang, the King of Han, are engaged in a contest for supreme power over China. Xiang Yu is young and full of energy, valorous and militant. He has come close to death many times, but has never been vanquished. Liu Bang is more calculating, both resourceful and clever, with excellent advisors and generals under his command. Implementing his advisors' suggestions for defeating the arrogant overlord of Chu, Liu Bang joins forces with a number of regional commanders and surrounds Xiang Yu's base. After burning the grain and fodder stores of the Chu army, Liu Bang sends his counselor Li Zuoche to pretend to defect to Xiang Yu. Li Zuoche's instructions are to gain the trust of Xiang Yu and entice him away from his base, leaving him open to attack by the 300,000 strong force which awaits in ambush. True to form, the foolhardy Xiang Yu ignores the warnings of his advisors, and is taken in by Li Zuoche's blandishments. Rashly he leads his troops out of the base, and suffers overwhelming casualties.
Utterly defeated, Xiang Yu returns to camp, ashen and silent. His concubine Yu Ji does her best to put on a good face, offering him wine and words of comfort. Xiang Yu gazes at his beloved warhorse and this beautiful woman, and realizing that their remaining time together is very short, he starts to sing a bleak and solemn dirge. Donning her most beautiful robes and ornaments and brandishing a sword, Yu Ji Chances and sings for her lord in an attempt to divert him from his troubles.
Late that night, the Han army surrounds the Chu encampment, singing the folksongs of the State of Chu in order to destroy the morale of the soldiers. (This is the origin of the Chinese saying "Surrounded by the songs of Chu" – to be besieged on all sides.) Like a bird paralyzed with fear at the twang of a bowstring, the Chu army loses all heart to do battle. Yu Ji urges Xiang Yu to break out of the encirclement, and return home to regroup and plan a new campaign. She then draws her sword and cuts her throat, to relieve Xiang Yu of all responsibility for her safety.
After a night of bloody slaughter, Xiang Yu finally breaks out of Liu Bang's trap. Alone, he comes to the banks of the river. As he gazes out at the raging torrent, he is unable to face the thought of returning home to tell his family of his losses. Filled with unbearable regret, he pushes his beloved steed into the torrent, and cuts his own throat.