Static Sheet Music
Dynamic Sheet Music
Shui Liao Huang Bang Zhong Zhuang Yuan(Who Knew I'd Top the Imperial Exam) is the core aria of The Female Imperial Son-in-Law , a classic Huangmei Opera. With lyrics by Lu Hongfei and music composed by Wang Wenzhi, it was first performed in 1958 by artists including Yan Fengying. Though the aria’s lyrics are only around a hundred words long, its twisting plot, melodious tune, and profound cultural connotations have made it a shining gem in the history of Chinese opera. It continues to be widely circulated today across multiple platforms, including stages, film and television, and the internet.
The aria tells the legendary story of Feng Suzhen, a talented woman. To save her fiancé Li Zhaoting, she disguises herself as a man, takes the imperial exam under an assumed name, and unexpectedly tops the list to become the "Zhuangyuan" (top scholar). The emperor then selects her as his son-in-law. The story’s prototype can be traced back to the real-life experience of Huang Chonggu, a gifted woman from the late Tang and Five Dynasties period. This extraordinary woman once served as an official with the status of "Xianggong Jinshi" (a scholar recommended by local authorities for the imperial exam). She was appreciated by the provincial governor for her outstanding talents, but eventually retired after her female identity was exposed. Huangmei Opera integrates history and art to shape Feng Suzhen into a model of a brave woman who broke free from feudal ethics. The aria’s lines—"I left home to save my beloved Lang; who knew I'd top the imperial exam"—have become a well-known classic.
This sheet music is based on the version performed by Han Zaifen. The tune is in the key of
B♭and can be played on anF-keydizi (Chinese bamboo flute) with the fundamental tone tuned to2.
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