Large-Scale Straight Stage Play: Shang Yang
Performed by Shanghai Modern Stage Art Center
Published by Peninsula Audio-Visual Publishing House, 2004
Media: 2 DVD-5 discs
Regional code setting: All
Soundtrack: Mandarin Chinese
Video format: MPEG-2
Subtitles: Chinese
Running time: 147 minutes
ISBN: 7883508253
ISRC: CND010400240
Historical drama "Shang Yang" was staged by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, portraying the unusual story of the well-known Chinese political reformer of the Qin State.
The drama is set in ancient China in the period of the Warring States (475-221 BC), portraying the life, dilemmas and sacrifices of this great tragic-hero who was trapped between friendship, love and political ideals. Young scholar Shang Yang, a member of the Wei kingdom who tries to seek shelter in Qin State, only to be captured by Wei general Gongsun Cuo. After studying the philosophy of the legalist sect, Shang Yang proposes a takedown of the sect in Qin State. He struggled to become the Chancellor of State and instituted political and legal reform. But his plan sends shockwaves through the conservative community in this filmed play from China.
This production has earned both popular and critical acclaims from major international and national arts festivals. It has won seven Chinese drama awards including the 14th China Drama Mei Hua Award, the seventh Wen Hua Award, Cao Yu Award for Drama and Literature and the fourth Shanghai Literature and Arts Award.
Shang Yang (ca. 390-338 B.C.) was a Chinese statesman and political philosopher. He was one of the founders of Chinese Legalism and organized the rise to power of the Qin dynasty. The real name of Shang Yang was Gongsun Yang; he was also known as Wei Yang. He was born in Wei, a state in north-central China. His mother was a concubine of a member of the Wei royal family. He was abandoned by his father in childhood after a fortune-teller predicted that the child would bring harm to the nation. In his youth he specialized in criminal law and served as tutor to the Wei princes. He was a favorite of the Wei prime minister, who recommended to the Wei ruler that Shang Yang succeed to the ministry upon his death. This request was denied, and Shang Yang, feeling that he was not appreciated in Wei, journeyed to the western state of Qin, which was defeated by Wei and had been seeking men who could offer practical advice on state affairs. He struggled to become the Chancellor of State and instituted political and legal reform. Although these reforms were great success, they also earned him enemies and an ironic ending. He left works compiled under the title "Book of Lord Shang".
商品名称：大型历史话剧《商鞅》（中文字幕）
演出：上海话剧艺术中心
介质：DVD
碟数：2
出版社：半岛音像出版社，2004
ISBN：7883508253
ISRC：CN-D01-04-0024-0/V.J8
十大精品剧目惟一入选话剧；
历史冷峻，人性真实，千秋功罪，自有评说；
英雄霸业的挽歌，再造历史剧的真谛。
战国中期，少年商鞅被秦国使者景监发现，欲奔秦国，而魏将军公叔座强行带走商鞅，令其陪魏公子昂读书。接受了法家学说的商鞅不满眼下的地位，为寻求更大发展，离别恋人，在景监的引荐下，向秦孝公游说法家学说，在宫廷引发了有关“变法”的辩论。在宣布新法、立太子为王储的大典上，太子驷的行为引起了保守派的发难，商鞅显赫的地位增加了保守派的仇恨，孝公逝世后，商鞅以谋反罪被车裂而死。
