The Night of Literature and Language -The Tang Dynasty
On the evening of December 3rd, the Department of Language and Literacy Education at National Taichung University of Education (NTCU) held its grand annual event, "The Night of Literature and Language," at the Qiu-zhen Building Concert Hall. This long-standing departmental tradition aims to bring faculty and students together for a memorable evening, utilizing stage performances to demonstrate students’ literary cultivation and team cohesion. This year’s event featured performances by freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Each class managed its own production team—including directors, screenwriters, and actors—displaying immense autonomy and passion through every stage of scriptwriting, prop making, and technical rehearsals.
The defining feature of this year’s event was a significant thematic transformation. Under the initiative of Department Chair Chou Pi-Hsiang, the previous format of adapting works from a single designated author was replaced by a more open and vibrant theme: "The Tang Dynasty." Any poetry, historical anecdotes, or literary works related to the Tang era could serve as creative material. Students were encouraged to take the stage through diverse forms such as poetry chanting, dance, or Xiangsheng (crosstalk), aiming to break traditional boundaries and inspire greater creativity. Despite the newfound flexibility in format, students maintained the academic depth of the department, with most classes still choosing stage plays as their primary medium to seek breakthroughs within tradition.
In terms of the performances, the freshman and junior classes coincidentally chose the legendary romance of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei as their foundation, yet offered starkly different contemporary interpretations. The freshman performance featured a fantasy "time-travel" perspective, where a modern university student returns to the Tang Dynasty to experience the life of Yang Guifei. Through a profound realization of the historical tragedy, the play conveyed a message of returning to reality and embracing a positive outlook on life. Meanwhile, the junior class set their story in the modern-day "Lychee Magazine Office," where Editor-in-Chief Yang Yuhuan and rookie editor Li Longji reunite in a contemporary workplace, attempting to reconcile with the historical regrets of their past lives. The plot reached a stunning climax when it was revealed that the modern setting was actually a result of a script flip due to a lack of production budget—a clever twist that combined absurdity with deeply moving emotions. The sophomore class adapted "The Legend of the Curly-Bearded Guest" (Qiuran Ke Zhuan), utilizing exquisite costumes, rigorous musical arrangements, and vivid characterizations to bring the palace atmosphere and martial arts spirit of the early Tang Dynasty to life, earning high praise for their meticulous preparation.
The event concluded on a warm and creative note, with the Junior Class (Year 3, Section A) taking home the "Best Class Award" for their profound narrative depth. While the award recognized a specific group, the honor belonged to the entire faculty and students. Through mutual support during rehearsals and preparation, everyone collectively shone on stage. This "Night of Literature and Language" was not only a showcase of literature and art but also a testament to the spirited pursuit of innovation and excellence by the students of the Department of Language and Literacy Education, all while remaining rooted in their traditional heritage.
