Chinese Opera English Subtitles:《Mu Guiying Takes Command》Peking Opera, 京剧: 穆桂英挂帅 (1/2)

Hi everyone!
Please excuse my amateur translation, feel free to make any corrections in the comments! Many expressions and phrases are untranslatable, I recommend looking at the original Chinese if you have the time: tv.cctv.com/2019/01/26/VIDEBnBFYDnhJk95AhCZ3N3D190126.shtml?preview=pcclient
I don't claim any credit of this work aside from the translations.

Mu Guiying is one of many stories based around the historical Yang family, a military family who served the country during the Song dynasty. The Yang family stories we know of today are a mix of historical accuracy and fiction. There is much debate whether these characters existed or not. However, the Yang family themselves were indeed a real high ranking official family during the Song dynasty.

Aside from Mu Guiying Takes Command, there are many other operas about the Yang family. Some famous ones include: Female Generals of the Yang Family (杨门女将) Mu Guiying Breaks Tianmen (穆桂英大破天门阵), The Battle of Hongzhou (战洪州).

Here's a link to an english subbed version of Female Generals of the Yang Family:    • 【FULL】Female Generals of the Yang Fam...  
I can't find any subbed versions of the other two operas but who knows, maybe I'll make one some day :)

I hope you Enjoy~


Translator's Notes:

0:51 The Jingyang bell refers to the bell that would be sound to summon the court to discuss important matters.

1:14 万岁 has been translated to "Your Excellency" literally meaning 'ten thousand years,' is a way to address the emperor.

1:53 Western Xia was a Tangut-ruled dynasty, different from the Han-Chinese Song dynasty.

2:24 Bianliang is the old name for modern day Kaifeng in Henan province, an ancient capital of the Song dynasty.

3:55 Emperor refers to himself as 孤, literally meaning alone. I've translated this to "one," the way royalty addresses themselves.

4:48 The Central Plains was a significant region to all past dynasties, economically, strategically and culturally. Kaifeng is situated in the Central Plains.

5:37 I've translated Matron She's title to Matron. Her title 太君 is an honourific for married women of high sociopolitical power. The Imperial Court is the government in ancient China.

7:51 The emperor is referred to as 天子, meaning son of heaven as the emperor was believed to be chosen by the heavens.

8:40 The emperor says 百灵相助, "larks help one another," a proverb meaning the emperor has good helpful ministers.

35:35 Tianbo Manor was the official historical residence of the Yang family.

37:03 Chi is a Chinese unit of measurement, 1/3 a metre.

39:50 Hall of punishments refers to the official building or office in charge of justice and punishments.

40:12 Prince Ma is a powerful diety with three eyes.

52:00 I missed the "has" :p

52:40 Golden Blade Yang is a title given to Yang Hui, a first generation Yang general famous for his skillful blade. He is the progenitor of the Yang family.

56:36 Grandfather was a way to address older men who was unrelated to you. Kou Zhun is not blood related to the Yangs. Kou Zhun was also a real person btw :)


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