Classics of Classical Literature in the New Century -- Selected and Commented on from The Peony Pavilion

Author: Zhao Shanlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: The language of The Peony Pavilion is full of vitality and brims with poetic charm, leaving people in awe and endless reflection. Its diction is brilliant yet not overly ornate, "with its talent lying in the balance between depth and simplicity, richness and austerity, and refinement and vulgarity, it achieves a unique mastery" (Wang Jide, The Rules of Opera). Such language can perfectly express the rich and varied emotions of the characters in the play, and easily resonates with readers and audiences. In the 23rd chapter of Dream of the Red Chamber, titled "Wonderful Lyrics of The West Chamber Transformed into Playful Words; The Splendid Melody of The Peony Pavilion Warns the Fragrant Heart," it describes Lin Daiyu listening to the girls from Li Xiangyuan singing the "Dreaming" scene from The Peony Pavilion. At first, she "nodded in self-reproach," then "her heart and soul were shaken," and finally "she became intoxicated and unable to stand," "carefully reflecting, she couldn't help but feel her heart ache and her eyes well with tears." This vividly illustrates this point. The Peony Pavilion is a highly enchanting literary masterpiece. The purpose of this book is to accompany readers in reading and experiencing it. The Peony Pavilion is quite lengthy, consisting of fifty-five scenes, and this book selects and comments on thirty-six of the more important scenes. This approach highlights key points while providing a comprehensive overview, allowing readers to gain a relatively complete and specific understanding of this masterpiece.