鐘馗嫁妹 Zhong Kui’s Earthly Mission
鐘馗嫁妹
終南山進士鐘馗與好友杜平入京赴試，兩人俱中進士。皇帝召見時，見鐘馗面貌醜陋，乃將其除名。鍾受此大辱，羞怒之下，觸死於後宰門。杜平將鍾屍骨埋葬，後因見朝廷腐敗，奸人當道，而辭官歸家。
鍾生前因賞識杜平，曾將小妹許與杜平。死後，鐘馗被任命為「驅邪將軍」，心中時時掛念妹子與杜平的婚事。一日，命鬼卒準備琴劍書箱，鼓樂笙簫，在眾鬼卒的簇擁下，返回故居，向小妹說明回家是為了要辦完當日早已訂下的婚事，並親自護送妹子到杜平府上完婚。
Zhong Kui’s Earthly Mission
Zhong Kui, an aspiring scholar, traveled to the capital with his friend Du Ping to take the imperial examination, which both of them passed. Du Ping was promptly appointed to an official post, whereas Zhong Kui was disqualified by the emperor because of his less than attractive looks. In a fit of humiliation and anger, Zhong killed himself, and was buried by the grief-stricken Du Ping.
Once in the netherworld where his wild looks serve him well as an asset, Zhong Kui is appointed the Grand Marshal. Although living in relative peace and content, Zhong misses his younger sister, whom he once promised to Du in marriage. In the scene, Zhong returns to the human world, escorts his sister to Du’s residence, and sees to it that the two are wed.
Zhong Kui’s Earthly Mission is unique not only for its extreme dexterity in dance movements of the characters but also for the tale it tells of tender feelings between siblings and friends across the barrier between the human world and the netherworld.
