Exploration of Ancient Chinese Drama

Author: Jiang Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: "The History of Song and Yuan Drama," the seminal work of the renowned scholar of Chinese classics, Wang Guowei, in 1913, opened the door to the study of Chinese opera history. Dedicated scholars of opera studies gathered in great numbers, and the field flourished with a vibrant atmosphere, forming a scene of fierce competition. In the 1990s, the trend of using underground artifacts as references for opera research emerged, yielding substantial and significant results. The "Illustrated Treatise on Chinese Opera Artifacts" by the Institute of Drama at Shanxi Normal University is a prime example.
Reviewing various editions of "The History of Chinese Drama," intense debates have arisen over the origins of drama, but when it comes to concrete discussions, it is merely "casually brushed aside." Other arguments are little more than "copy-pasting" from existing literature. As the concept that "the development and evolution of Chinese opera are driven by roles" is evident here, it becomes clear that the focus of the origins of "Ancient Chinese Drama" lies in the formation of roles.