Cao Xiang Ji

Author: Wang Shifu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Story of the Western Chamber is a zaju (a traditional Chinese opera form) adapted by Wang Shifu of the Yuan Dynasty based on the Tang Dynasty romance The Story of Yingying. It depicts the love story between the scholar Zhang Sheng and the minister's daughter Cui Yingying, portraying the themes of pursuing marital autonomy and resisting feudal rites. 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 the original text of each act, annotated with tones and explanations, providing a brief introduction to the characteristics of zaju, the main content, artistic features, and expressive techniques of each act. It is particularly suitable for middle school students' extracurricular reading.