Japanese ballads on Chinese themes

Author: Zhang Zhejun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Noh is an ancient Japanese mask dance drama that remains active on the world stage to this day. As an ancient form of theater, Noh includes a category of works with Chinese themes, known as Tangshi Noh. On this stage appear the timeless figures of Chinese history and literature, as well as ethereal deities and fearsome demons. Together, they perform a vivid tableau of Chinese culture and history, recounting a series of stories. These are Chinese figures, yet they are also Japanese figures, presenting not only Chinese culture but also the thoughts and emotions of ancient Japanese playwrights. This book primarily examines the sources and variations of the themes in Japanese Tangshi Noh, exploring the connection between the sources and the imaginative elements. With the author's vivid prose, we will step onto a colorful Noh stage.