Water Stage

Water Stage

Located on the north side of West Scenic Street, this stage is unique because it is built over water, hence its name “Water Stage.” Its scale and exquisite craftsmanship are also rare in China. I

ntroduction

The performance platform of the Water Stage is connected on both sides, making it convenient for actors to move around and change scenes. The audience seating is divided into upper and lower levels, with a spacious central area for general theatergoers. The sides feature private boxes, equivalent to today’s VIP sections, which were mostly reserved by wealthy patrons.

The central performance platform of the stage is resplendently decorated, especially the caisson ceiling at the center, which is dazzlingly ornate. The roof of the stage is carved with both openwork and relief depictions of the Eight Immortals, all vividly lifelike. The main beam in the center features carvings of Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty watching a performance, along with images of the Eighteen Arhats.

From the stage, you can also see carvings on the decorated beam of the Qimen Gate opposite, displaying the reign title “Kaiyuan,” used in the early period of Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji)’s rule.

From the Qing Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China, Peking opera performances were very popular. Temporary wooden stages were often set up in open spaces and called “thatched stages”; some temples had fixed stages as part of their complexes, known as “temple stages.” Neither charged admission, and audiences would watch from the open grounds. On the square of Xiuzhen Temple on East Main Street in Wuzhen, there was a “temple stage,” which was an annex of the temple and thus named Xiuzhen Temple Ancient Stage. The Water Stage in West Scenic Area and the Xiuzhen Temple Ancient Stage complemented each other, serving as important cultural and entertainment venues for residents of Wuzhen and nearby towns and villages in the past.