CENHUA

This work is inspired by Madam Wa (1496-1555), a revered heroine I deeply admire. Born Cen Hua, she was a Zhuang ethnic native of Guishun Prefecture in Guangxi, now known as Jingxi. A distinguished female anti-Japanese pirate warrior in the Ming Dynasty, she is the only ethnic minority female commander with well-documented military feats in official historical records, honored as the foremost heroine fighting Japanese pirates. The Zhuang epic Ballad of Madam Wa that recounts her legendary deeds has been passed down through generations to this day.
The piece depicts a tender fragment of Cen Hua’s youth at the age of fifteen. On the Lantern Festival during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty, warm breezes swept across western Guangxi as winter faded away. Having outgrown childish naivety, the fifteen-year-old Cen Hua possessed delicate yet striking features, with innate valiance shining in her eyes. Streets and alleys were illuminated by rows of lanterns, while the sounds of gongs, drums and cheerful chatter drifted on the wind, stirring her longing for the bustling festive scene. Trained in swordsmanship and classical learning from an early age, she spent most of her days confined to the Tusi mansion, rarely having the chance to witness such lively folk celebrations. Gently tidying her attire, her eyes glittered with the glow of countless lanterns. Eager to step out of the secluded manor, she yearned to wander amid the sea of lanterns and immerse herself in the joyous melodies of ordinary townsfolk.