As a masterpiece by the renowned playwright Wei Minglun, "Bashan Scholar" has had a tremendous influence both on Chuanju Opera and Chinese opera circles since its premiere in the 1980s. The work, a true story from Sichuan Province during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), successfully portrays the straightforward, rigid yet na?ve life of an intellectual.

Besides its dramatic plots, the play is characterized with rich personalities, exquisite dialogues and songs, and a strong local flavor. After its debut, the play has been performed more than 200 times to more than 200,000 total audience members. After the play was reinterpreted in November 2002, it has won high acclaim.

The story is set in the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty when the Bashan area suffered from draught for many years. When the county magistrate embezzles the relief grain, hungry peasants decide to take him to court and invite local scholar Meng Dengke to issue the legal charges. But the pedantic scholar declines their request.

To conceal his crime, the magistrate tells the provincial government that there was a civil uprising in Bashan and the gullible governor of Sichuan Province Heng Bao gives the order to suppress the forces, headed by provincial commander in chief Li Youheng.

Witnessing the atrocities committed in his hometown, Meng gradually becomes disillusioned and sets out to seek justice. But Meng's bookish demeanor brings him nothing but ill fortune. Fortunately, he is saved by a singer from his hometown, Nishang.

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