(Ancient Illustrations) Collection of Ming and Qing Dynasty Opera Stories

Author: Chen Qi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Chinese classical opera, which flourished during the Yuan Dynasty and is commonly referred to as [Yuanqu]. It is renowned alongside Tang poetry, Song poetry, and Ming-Qing novels as a model of traditional literary styles. It covers a wide range of themes, including society, life, and immortal realms. Its structure is intricate and skillful, with narratives that are full of twists and legends, many of which are still performed on the stage today. Unfortunately, the original Yuan Dynasty opera scripts have become scarce, and modern scholars of Yuanqu rely on Ming Dynasty editions to gain an understanding of them. The Ming Dynasty editions of Yuan Dynasty opera scripts have their own distinctive characteristics, such as the inclusion of numerous exquisite woodblock prints. Chinese folk woodblock prints originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and reached their peak in the Ming Dynasty. Ming Dynasty woodblock prints range from rustic and naive to elegant and refined, with layouts that are exquisitely detailed and lines that flow with perfection. As a result, Yuanqu and woodblock prints were uniquely intertwined during the Ming Dynasty, forming a harmonious union of two great art forms, with the Yuanqu Xuan (Selected Yuanqu) compiled and published by Jin Shu and Mao Xun being the most notable example. Throughout the Ming Dynasty, opera composition inherited the legacy of the Yuan Dynasty, with both zaju (a form of Yuan Dynasty opera) and chuanqi (a later form of opera) flourishing, producing a succession of masterpieces and a vast number of plays. The Ming Dynasty editions of opera scripts are elegant and lyrical in language, often accompanied by fine woodblock prints of the time, making them not only performance scripts but also cherished reading materials. By this point, the practice of including woodblock prints with opera scripts had become fashionable. In the Qing Dynasty, the styles of Kang, Qian, Yongzheng, and Qianlong still retained the Ming Dynasty influence, with many opera scripts accompanied by illustrations, though most were mediocre, with occasional exceptions. However, from the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns onward, the quality declined, and it is best to leave it at that. This book collects 103 Yuan Dynasty opera scripts, 211 Ming Dynasty opera scripts, and 73 Qing Dynasty opera scripts, each accompanied by one to two exquisite woodblock prints from the Ming or Qing Dynasties (a small number from the modern era), along with summaries of their stories. This allows readers to gain a comprehensive understanding of traditional opera while also appreciating the delicate and graceful woodblock prints, achieving a dual artistic experience. This is the compiler's hope.