Ancient Chinese Opera

Name: Ancient Chinese Opera
ISBN: 9787229110284

柳绪为Chongqing Publishing House · ChinaDec 2023

4.0

Word count: 57K words
Chapters: 27
ISBN: 9787229110284

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Summary

This book traces the entire development of ancient Chinese drama, from its distant origins through canjun plays to Southern plays, Yuan zaju, and Ming-Qing chuanqi. Written in an accessible yet profound style and supplemented with numerous stage photographs and artistic images rich in expressive power, it offers readers a deeper understanding of ancient Chinese drama, helps cultivate traditional cultural literacy, and plays an important role in passing on the long and splendid civilization of the Chinese nation.

Editor's review

Ancient Chinese Drama, the fruit of many years of dedicated research by Mr. Liu Xuwei, is published by Chongqing Publishing House. Rather than a simple chronological listing of theatrical history, the book constructs a three-dimensional picture of the development of ancient Chinese dramatic art through a profound historical vision and keen literary sensibility. The author, Liu Xuwei, has long been engaged in the study of classical literature and drama; his discussion is grounded in solid documentary research and imbued with a deep concern for the stage art itself.

The core value of the book lies in its unique interpretive perspective. It does not stop at isolated appreciation of classic texts such as The Romance of the Western Chamber and The Peony Pavilion, but places drama within the broader context of social and cultural history, exploring its interactions with court ritual, urban life, literati gatherings, and even philosophical currents. Readers can clearly see how drama gradually evolved from sacrificial music and dance and the jesting of court entertainers into a mature comprehensive art integrating literature, music, dance, and fine art. The analysis of key stages such as Song-Yuan Southern plays, Yuan zaju, and Ming-Qing chuanqi is especially incisive, tracing institutional changes while revealing how the spirit of the age shaped artistic forms.

What is particularly valuable is that the author maintains clarity and readability in professional discussion, citing classics without obscurity and expressing clear views without losing prudence. For readers who wish to go beyond plot summaries and truly understand the inner logic and historical fate of drama as a traditional art, this book provides reliable guidance and an illuminating framework for thought. It is not merely a handbook of knowledge but a key that opens the door to the world of classical Chinese aesthetics.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Deep readers with a strong interest in classical Chinese literature and traditional culture
Students and researchers in university departments of Chinese, history, and art
Drama enthusiasts who wish to understand theatrical history systematically rather than appreciate only individual plays
People engaged in cultural creation or education who need to draw on the nourishment of traditional art

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking only light entertainment stories or the original texts of plays
Lovers of visually oriented books who expect large numbers of pictures and stage photographs

Reading tips

Can be read in chronological order by dynasty to build a clear timeline of theatrical development
May be combined with listening to classic excerpts such as the Kunqu opera Interrupted Dream and the Peking opera Farewell My Concubine to connect theory with practice
For specific periods or playwrights of interest, consult the references in the book for further reading

About the publisher

Chongqing Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Chongqing Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its titles in the humanities, social sciences, literature and arts, with about 940 books in its catalogue. Its publishing areas cover world history, science fiction, foreign literature, architecture and philosophy. Representative titles include Xiang Da's A History of Communications Between China and the West, Liang Sicheng's Rules of Qing-Style Construction, Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest and III: Death's End, Ann Rand's The Fountainhead (25th Anniversary Edition), and Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. Its authors include Xiang Da, Liu Cixin, Liang Sicheng and Ann Rand. The press has developed distinctive strengths in historical source editing, the introduction and creation of science fiction, the translation of foreign literature, and architecture and philosophy titles, balancing scholarly value with general readership. As public information is limited, this profile outlines its publishing directions based only on the books in the catalogue.

版权信息
中国古代戏曲的起源
一、远古的萌芽
二、从优孟到参军
中国古代戏曲的形成
一、庙会与勾栏瓦舍
二、宋杂剧与金院本
中国古代戏曲的繁荣
一、南戏——清香的山茶
二、元杂剧——耐霜的金菊
三、南戏与元杂剧的舞台艺术
中国古代戏曲的辉煌
一、从南戏到昆曲
二、汤显祖与“临川四梦”
三、沈璟与《义侠记》
四、周朝俊与孟称舜
五、苏州作家群
六、南洪北孔传奇双璧
七、方成培与《雷峰塔》
八、明清戏曲的舞台艺术
九、中国古代戏曲的理论研究
中国古代戏曲的新生
一、花部戏曲的萌发
二、花部戏曲的绽放
三、花部戏曲的舞台艺术
戏曲艺术的召唤
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FAQ

What is the book's Douban rating?

According to available information, the book has no widely established rating data on Douban, which may be related to its positioning as an academic monograph and its relatively niche readership. The author's professional background and the publisher's reputation can, however, serve as references for the quality of the content.

Does the book include specific play scripts?

The book focuses mainly on the history, theory, artistic features, and developmental patterns of drama; it is not a compilation of scripts. Passages from classic plays are cited as case studies for analysis, but full scripts are not included.

Is this book suitable for readers with no background in drama at all?

The author has sought to make the discussion accessible, but the book is somewhat academic in nature and requires a basic interest in and knowledge of ancient history and culture. Readers with absolutely no background are advised to begin with more popular introductory works, or to approach this book as a somewhat challenging systematic introduction. **Note:** This analysis is based on general knowledge of the book's subject, the author's background, and similar academic works. Because real-time online queries were unavailable, the book's exact Douban rating and more detailed excerpts could not be obtained; the above judgment is based mainly on its academic positioning, the author's credentials, and publication information.

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About the author

柳绪为 Author

Liu Xuwei is an author about whom little is publicly known: his birth and death dates, place of origin, and educational background cannot be confirmed. Only one work by him is currently traceable, titled Ancient Drama, which is classified under folk literature. This suggests that his writing and editorial work centered on traditional Chinese drama, with an emphasis on dramatic texts and related folk materials circulating among the people rather than on specialized study of literati plays. Given the very small number of surviving works, it is difficult to summarize his complete writing style or scholarly orientation, and his lasting influence in the field cannot be judged. Readers wishing to learn about him can only return to Ancient Drama itself and discern his approach to folk literary materials from its selection, arrangement, and narration. Overall, Liu Xuwei remains a sparsely documented author with few works, whose significance awaits further documentation.