Cao Xiang Ji

Author: (Yuan) Wang Shifu / Meng Qingru Reviewer
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Romance of the West Chamber is a zaju (a form of traditional Chinese opera) adapted by Wang Shifu of the Yuan Dynasty from the Tang Dynasty romance The Story of Yingying and other tales. It depicts the love story between the scholar Zhang Sheng and the young lady Cui Yingying of the minister's mansion, portraying the themes of pursuing marital autonomy and resisting feudal etiquette. The play creates vivid and well-developed characters such as Zhang Sheng, Yingying, and Hongniang. With its intricate and engaging plot, as well as its blend of refined and colloquial language, it is hailed as the "Crown of Zaju" and has had a profound influence on the development of Chinese theatrical literature. This book includes annotated and annotated versions of the original text for each act, briefly introducing the characteristics of zaju as a theatrical genre, the main content, artistic features, and expressive techniques of each act. It is particularly suitable for middle school students' extracurricular reading.