The History behind SACRIFICE - The Sacrifice of Yang GuiFei

Love Duty Destiny treachery Betrayal Sacrifice

Tang Dynasty (8th century China). Emperor Xuanzong had firmly established a strong empire with a cosmopolitan capital in Chang’An (today Xi'an). One day, at Huaqing Hot Springs, Lady Yang Yuhuan, the 18-year-old wife of one of the Emperor's many sons (Li Mao, the Prince of Shou), caught Xuanzong's eye. Amidst protestations from his son, the Emperor took Lady Yang to be his own concubine, and she grew to wield enormous influence over the Emperor, who began neglecting matters of state to spend time with her. He renamed her Yang GuiFei (high-ranked imperial concubine). She later became the last of the 4 ancient beauties of China.

[move your mouse over to find out who is who]

Tang-Dynasty paintings indicate that Lady Yang GuiFei was a plump woman. Taking great pains to please her, the Emperor had the palace at Huaqing Hot Springs enlarged. Fresh lychees, her favorite fruit, were brought by pony express from Guangzhou every week. The Emperor was well versed in music. On hearing a melody from the Western Regions, he was enchanted and recomposed it and renamed the tune Dance of Rainbow Skirt & Feathered Dress. Lady Yang GuiFei had extremely beautiful poses when dancing to the tune. Many of her relatives took positions at Court, with her cousin Yang Guozhong becoming Chief Minister, and her sisters were all appointed to nobility.

The Emperor, wallowing in the pleasures of the flesh, neglected his court and politics. Lady Yang GuiFei even adopted An Lushan, a general of Turkic origin, as her son and helped him win power at court. In 755, An Lushan seized the opportunity to stage a rebellion and marched into the capital starting a civil war that lasts eight years, and in which millions are killed. The Emperor fled towards the southwest, taking Lady Yang GuiFei and her cousin, Chief Minister Yang Guozhong along with his faithful eunuch, Gao Lishi with him.

Years of neglect had weakened the imperial army, and its remaining soldiers were determined to remove Lady Yang GuiFei, the cause of its decline. When stopping to change horses at Mawei village, the soldiers mutinied, killing Yang Guozhong, and demanding the death of Lady Yang GuiFei. The Emperor, faced with an impossible decision, reluctantly orders Lady Yang GuiFei’s execution.

The rebellion is a turning point in Chinese history, from which the once most prosperous Tang Dynasty never fully recovers.

Explore the Main Characters:


The Emperor Tang XuanZong	The Princess Yang GuiFei	The Prince Li Mao	The Barbarian An Lushan	The Servant Gao Lishi	The Chief Minister Yang Guozhong	The Poet Li Bai

Also learn a little about the Tang dynasty, it's capital city Chang'An (near Xi'an), or the Huaqing Hot Spring. Also see some Design References we are compiling for the musical.

The Sacrifice of Yang GuiFeiis the story of Emperor Xuanzong (of the prosperous Tang dynasty 618-907 AD) who brings 杨贵妃 Yang GuiFei, one of China’s most beautiful women, into his court as a concubine When they adopt China’s greatest villain, the barbarian An Lushan, their fateful triumvirate creates China’s greatest love story. Producer Toby Simkin optioned the worldwide rights almost immediately after hearing the score in early 2008 “it’s a powerful, sometimes shocking story, filled with a roller coaster of emotions from brutality to sweet and innocent love, building to a climax with The Emperor’s agonizing decision: save the woman he loves, or sacrifice her to save his dynasty – Richard Daniel’s remarkable score carries the audience through this cavalcade with a fabulous mix of Chinese and Western instruments.” 一个全新电影制作项目即将到来,由屡获大奖的英国团队创作并得到中方支持。电影牺牲》，讲述的是中国历史上最伟大的皇帝遇上中国古代四大美女之，并遭遇中国最大恶人之间的故事。所有这一切构成了中国历史上最伟大的爱情故事 <<牺牲>>. The true story of Yang Gui Fei 杨贵妃, one of the Four Ancient Beauties of China, is famous for her role in the demise of the Tang dynasty. TOBY SIMKIN (Producer) is a theatrical producer who has over 25 years of 1st-class producing or managing experience of entertainment projects with over 120 Broadway/West End shows and tours from Annie to Victor/Victoria in the USA, Canada, UK, Russia, Australia, China and oceans between. From many Tony Award winning productions on Broadway to Olivier Award winning productions on London’s West, Mr. Simkin is a leader in the field of theatrical producing, management and marketing. Mr. Simkin is additionally credited with leading the theatre industry into cyberspace in the early 90's. Mr. Simkin maintains a residence in Shanghai, developing new opportunities for global entertainment where he owns a Chinese corporation - Shen Tu Bin Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd..