New Issue Wonderful Complete Illustrations and Annotations of the West Chamber Love in the Moonlight

Author: Wang Baofu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-01
Features: "The Western Chamber of Dongxiang" features magnificent literary style and vivid character portrayals, making it the most complete extant Jin Dynasty zhuguangtiao. In the Yuan Dynasty, Wang Shifu further adapted it, transforming the original zhuguangtiao into a four-act play, which made the storyline more logical and dramatic, creating a complete theatrical work. It was thus renamed "Wang's Western Chamber." The clever, playful, lively, and enthusiastic Hongniang, the noble-born, beautiful, versatile, and sentimental Yuanyang, the dashing, beauty-loving Zhang Sheng, and the cunning old woman—all left a profound impression on audiences. "The Western Chamber of Dongxiang" is a renowned theatrical work in the history of Chinese literature. The original "Story of Yuanyang" by Yuan Zhen of the Tang Dynasty was a love tragedy. In the Jin Dynasty, Dong Jieyuan adapted and recreated it in the form of zhuguangtiao, changing the tragic ending of Yuanyang being abandoned into a tale of marital reunion and happy endings for lovers, which gained widespread popularity. "The Western Chamber of Dongxiang" features magnificent literary style and vivid character portrayals, making it the most complete extant Jin Dynasty zhuguangtiao. In the Yuan Dynasty, Wang Shifu further adapted it, transforming the original zhuguangtiao into a four-act play, which made the storyline more logical and dramatic, creating a complete theatrical work. It was thus renamed "Wang's Western Chamber." The clever, playful, lively, and enthusiastic Hongniang, the noble-born, beautiful, versatile, and sentimental Yuanyang, the dashing, beauty-loving Zhang Sheng, and the cunning old woman—all left a profound impression on audiences.