Portrait of a philosopher

The director's dedication to portraying the philosopher's life and teachings underscores a profound commitment to artistic innovation.

Nevertheless, he wondered whether a seven-hour production might test limits, asking himself whether the audience would be patient enough to sit for such a long time, and if it was really necessary for the play to contain so much detailed information.

It was director Tian Qinxin, president of the National Theatre of China, who encouraged him to stick to his idea.

"I ran into Tian one day at the theater and she told me that a play about Confucius would be a new experience for the audience. She said that 'it (the seven-hour performance) may be a unique advantage of the play'," he says.

When the National Theatre of China launched the second season of its young directors support plan in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, in Shandong in August last year, What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Confucius? was part of the event.

"Over thousands of years, Chinese people have lived their lives with a deep respect for Confucius, whose teachings transcend time. Theater directors also have their own interpretations of Confucius, and can use their productions to communicate with the philosopher and the audience," Tian said in Qufu at the time.