Dancers rehearse for Five Stars Rise in the East Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Performance & Arts Group

Dancers rehearse for Five Stars Rise in the East Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Performance & Arts Group

Chinese dancers from the Beijing Performance & Arts Group will stage a drama inspired by an arm protector dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) unearthed in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing from June 19 to 21. 

The brocade armband, one of China's national treasures and greatest archaeology discoveries of the 20th century, is embroidered with the phrase "Five stars rise in the east, benefit China." It was discovered in 1995 near the elbow area of a corpse in a tomb at the Niya ruins in Xinjiang. Due to its importance, the armband has been restricted from being exhibited abroad. According to historians, an independent oasis state called Jingjue was once located at Niya, which lies along the ancient Silk Road. 

The drama Five Stars Rise in the East, a co-production involving dancers from Beijing and Xinjiang, aims to represent the  history of the armband on stage. Dong Ning, the show's producer, said that the dance drama will "bring to life" China's cultural heritage for audiences to enjoy. 

Dong said the armband witnessed the cultural exchanges that took place among ethnic groups at the time in Jingjue. 

"The ancient Silk Road did not just connect people economically, but also created cultural bonds, just like family members," Dong said. "So this show is a story about people-to-people exchanges."