AI sends teacher back to solve ancient mystery

Time travel has long been a recurring theme in literature, art and film. A new musical at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing gives the familiar premise a fresh twist by weaving artificial intelligence into the story.

Young Bao Zheng: A Breeze Across Time to Clear Injustice, created by teachers and students at the conservatory, opens with history teacher Bao Zheng being haunted by recurring nightmares in which he is trapped in an unsolved criminal case from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Turning to AI for answers, he is transported to the year 1029, where he becomes Bao Zheng, a young county official investigating a long-buried imperial examination fraud case.

The historical Bao Zheng was a renowned statesman of the Northern Song who served as chief magistrate of Kaifeng, the imperial capital. His reputation for solving difficult cases later inspired folk tales and operas, transforming him into an enduring symbol of justice and integrity.

Blending humor with emotional depth, the musical, directed by Guo Zhen, reimagines Bao Zheng's legacy while bringing traditional values of honesty and fairness closer to younger audiences.