A Play: Chen Zi-Gao, the Male Queen

This is a play adapted from the original play: “The Male Queen,” written by Wang Chi-Te in Ming dynasty. This is a whole new adaptation integrated with contemporary gender concepts and also referring to related historical documents and novels.he plot of the play is as follows: a general, Chen Chien, meets an extremely beautiful young soldier, Chen Zi-Gao on the battlefield. Chen Chien admires Chen Zi-Gao wholeheartedly, so he bestows him a treasured sword and takes him as his personal bodyguard, who also has to serve him at night. After the war, they return home in triumph. Chen Zi-Gao is accommodated in the western chamber and lives with Chen Chien’s wife, Shen Miao-Jung. Chen Chien’s sister, Chen Yu-Hua, meets Chen Zi-Gao incidentally and mistakes him for her fiance. After realizing the truth, she still falls in love with him. So she starts to see Chen Zi-Gao in the western chamber during the night. They have a secret affair. Then the brother and sister, Chen Chien and Chen Yu-Hua share the same beauty Chen Zi-Gao. Chen Zi-Gao falls in love with a male and a female at the same time. Then Chen Chien finally finds out the fact that his sister is having an affair with his beloved bodyguard. He wants Chen Zi-Gao to make a decision. Chen Zi-Gao is given a promise that if Chen Chien becomes King, he will be crowned the male queen. Chen Zi-Gao chooses Chen Chien. Chen Yu-Hua then dies of disappointment and depression.he play tries to present Chen Zi-Gao’s unique character in the combination of his yin and yang characteristics, which provides an authenticity for his homosexual relationship with Chen Chien. Chen Yu-Hua’s active pursue of passion and love makes a contrast between homosexual and heterosexual relationships. In such contrast, combined with power and gender struggle, the unique emotional and dramatic conflict is revealed. In addition to the traditional romance between a gifted young man and a beauty, this play hopes to discover a new relationship and affection through the interpretation and integration of contemporary gender concepts. his thesis will include the play and the author’s reflection on the play to show the beginning and subsequent developments of the making of this play, including the analysis of the original play “The Male Queen.”