Song Jiang Battle Array: interview with Paul Blewchamp

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - Jacqueline Sharp in Conversation with Paul Blewchamp, International Marketing Manager, The Song Jiang squad

WORLD PREMIERE – SONG JIANG BATTLE ARRAY

MEADOWBANK SPORTS CENTRE - August 2009, on 7th – 13th at 14.00; 7th – 9th at 18.00; 8th – 13th at 11.00am

Q Who are The Song Jiang Squad and what are they promoting?

A The troupe is students, who attend The Department of Tourism Management, at Shin Chien University, Neimen Township, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. The troupe was formed in March 2004, under the leadership of Guo-Jau-He, Master of Arts.

We are performing at two locations within the United Kingdom.

At Edinburgh Fringe in August 2009, dates and times above.

Then at Gerrard Street in China Town, London, on the 18^th August, the performance will begin at 2.00pm.

We are promoting the cultural diversity outside Taiwan, to International arena, where people outside of Taiwan can get an insight into our history of martial arts, physical theatre, drumming and dance, hence us promoting our cultures of Nei Men.

Our troupe also promotes the benefits of martial arts combined with dance, which are that it is good for health.

Q What is your relationship with the Squad?

A Firstly, I am British, and teach English, at the Shin Chien University.

Laughing, he says, “how the cards have turned”, as he used to teach Chinese back in England.

Q In your own words, how best would you describe The Song Jiang Squad ensemble?

A They are an ensemble of 48 members, most of which are girls. As professional artists, they perform Taiwanese martial arts, opera, physical theatre, drumming and dance, portraying the spirit of a traditional battle scene.

The troupe aims are to reinterpret and enhance performing arts in creative ways.

The legendary story character, Song Jiang, from two hundred years ago, describes The Legend of Water Margin (Sui Hu Zhuan), which describes the military arrays which were formed, in that era of time, where the troops consisted of 36 Tian-gang star gods and 72 Di-sha star gods, totalling 108 people, described in the Song Jiang Battle Array.

As I said today, the ensemble is much reduced to 48 members, fitting to social changes of Taiwan.

Q Explain to me where the idea for the performance originated from? Please describe if The Song Jian Battle Array is an historical event, true story, or fiction?

A The story of Song Jian Battle Array is based on historical legends, from over two hundred years ago. One legend is that in Song Dynasty, people often dressed up as generals, runners, inferior officers, or other different officers and soldiers holding swords, spears or cudgels and performing in dramas or traditional operas.

Others believe that during the Nei Ming dynasty, the Song Jiang Battle Array in Taiwan was used by Cheng Chung-Kung’s military, to prepare troops to defend coastal areas of Taiwan, protect inner public security against outer invasion. They were also trained to use martial arts, to fight against Qing Dynasty.

Q So what is the connection with the troupe from Neimen village and the Song Jiang Battle of Array legend, are there any local connections?

A Yes, the students are connected to the Kaohsiung County, as they are all students at Shih Chien University, which is based in the Neimen Township, with a population of less than 30,000.

Neimen Township of Kaohsiung County has a strong connection with the Song Jiang Battle of Array, as described in Song Jiang Battle Array legends.

Legend is that martial arts were brought to Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, when Cheng Cheng-Kung, prepared his Fujian troops for battle, to defend the coastal areas of Taiwan, during the Ming period. However, this has not been officially documented.

After his death, Cheng Cheng-kung, is seen as a god, who is worshiped by the people, they saw him as a hero, a courageous warrior. During the Ming Dynasty, he was protecting the territory, for the people, to prevent invasion from the Quing Dynasty, who eventually did take over.

This is where the Song Jiang Battle Arrays, martial arts originate from, the Cheng-Cheng-kung, and explains the connection with Kaohsiung County, which today, has at least 15 Song Jiang Battle Array groups.

The townsfolk, in Neimen, have a temple, a place of worship, known as Nanhai Zizhu Temple. There are temple committees, who are dedicated to keep alive the traditions of Song Jiang and they are active in encouraging their culture, to be promoted to the International arena.

This is why the Song Jiang Battle Arrays, martial arts originated from Cheng-Cheng-kung.

Q You have explained that martial arts was a tradition two hundred years ago, during the Ming Dynasty, Cheng-Cheng-kung era, so do you think that this modern ensemble have captured this, have they brought their own interpretation to events?

A The troupe has reinterpretated traditional martial arts of Kaohsiung County; they have made small changes, such as reducing the array from legendary tradition, of 108, to modern array of 48. Wen-Shiang Ju, and Wen-Jen Liu, both get the credit for being Martial Art Supervisors, for the performance. Ya-Ting Chang, Choreographer, Su-Ling Chou, Dance Supervisor.

Hsia-Ling Hsia, Music Producer, incorporated modern music, and Chi-Shiung Wang, Music Producer, kept the Traditional Song Jiang, to the performance.

Other than that, producer Ching-Tang Chang and Art Director, Mei-Ling Hsiao, have kept with 200 year traditions, of dance, drums, physical theatre, opera, where Song Jiang Battle Array scenes, involved armour and wearing of military costumes.

Q Could you please explain more about the costumes, they were beautiful, very bright, colourful and interesting, who made them and what do they represent?

A The fashion designer, Mei-Yin Lin designed the costumes, Shu-Hsin Lo, was the Pattern Supervisor.

Q Please explain the multi bright colours of the costumes, and painted faces, what do they represent?

A The painted faces, bright earth and nature colours, to match costumes, are our idea, modern idea.

The costumes represent nature and the Chinese Yin and Yang, where nature has four seasons and five elements. In our production we pray to the gods of wind, flame, thunder and electricity to save the civilians’ lives.

Fire, sound, wind, thunder and light, are represented in our costumes. Red representing wind; yellow for light; Black for Yin (Moon), White for Yang (Sun);

These colours are elements of nature, natural powers, which come from our Gods. These Gods are part of the Song Jiang Battle Array, they protect our people.

We also have dragons in our production, as in our culture the dragon is a God, which we worship. The dragon looks after the people of the village, to protect them and for prosperity.

Q You also have flags in your production, please explain what they are?

A Flags are used in battle to destroy and keep away evil spirits; they also confuse enemies in battle, by their rapid movements

One of our flags represents the Yin and Yang, Taoism, the symbol in the flag is known as the Taijitu.

The Taijitu, symbol, which originates from China 4,000 years ago, associated with Chinese medicine, for restoring body balance. The symbol represents the entire celestial phenomenon, which contains cycle of sun, and four seasons.

The Taijitu is a large circle, known as a “divided circle”, one half Yang, (white/light), other half Yin, (black/dark). Taijitu is symbolic for male/female, and dark/light.

There is a smaller circle within Yin, representing the Winter Solstice and smaller circles within Yang, representing Summer Solstice.

On outer circle on parameter of the Taijitu, represents “everything”. The inside, two half’s represent, the two energies, they cannot exist without each other.

Our other flag represents Shih Chien University.

We have another flag representing the colours from the four elements of nature, red, green, yellow and white.

Q Are you going on tour, with Song Jiang Battle Array, as an ensemble troupe?

A As already mentioned we are going to China Town, Gerrard Street, London, on 18^th, at 2.00pm.

If anyone is interested in us touring, performing, they can contact us by email at fion@mail.kh.usc.edu.tw or http://admin.kh.usc.edu.tw

Q Who sponsored you to come to Edinburgh Fringe 2009?

A We are very grateful to our Sponsor Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts, very grateful for the Support from Council for Cultural Affairs, Taiwan, Kaohsiung County Government Taiwan and College of Culture and Creativity, Shih Chien University, Kaohsiung Campus.

Q The Song Jiang Battle Array, have won awards and renowned acclaim for their performance, would you like to explain what these are?

A Yes, I would be delighted to!

On 1^st January 2003, the Song Jiang Battle Array of Neimen won the “International Trophy” in the Rose Parade, which was held in Pasadena, California, U.S.A.

They have received 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, place awards in previous years of Taiwanese folk culture competitions among the universities in Taiwan.

Participated in the 2006 Aloha Festival performances on invitation of the Honolulu City Council member Rod Tan, and was honoured with the President Award.

Performed in the 2008 presidential inauguration celebration party of Taiwan.

Invited to perform in the opening ceremony of the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung.

Q Lastly, in a few words, how would you sum up your troupe’s aims?

A Their aims, with Song Jiang Battle Array, are to reinterpret and enhance Taiwanese performing arts in creative ways.

Q Lastly, I would like to thank you for your wonderful performance, at Edinburgh Fringe 2009, your ensemble is awesome, such a credit to your country, Taiwan, well done and thank you for coming to the United Kingdom.

A It is an honour and we are delighted to have this opportunity to visit Edinburgh and London in 2009, thank you!