Introduction to Song-Jin Zaju

Author: Jing Lihu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-11-01
Features: Song-Jin Zaju (a form of Chinese opera from the Song and Jin dynasties) succeeded the theatrical traditions of the Tang Dynasty and paved the way for the flourishing of the Qing Dynasty's Xixi opera. It represents a leap from an immature to a mature stage in the history of ancient Chinese opera and serves as a crucial bridge connecting the two theatrical eras. For a long time, academia has not given it sufficient attention or thorough research. On one hand, this is because much attention has been focused on the prosperity and climax of Chinese opera after the Yuan Dynasty, neglecting this yet-to-be-matured form of opera. On the other hand, the lack of surviving scripts and systematic historical records of Song-Jin Zaju has made research extremely challenging. Further comprehensive and systematic research on Song-Jin Zaju is of great significance for addressing the weak links in the study of ancient Chinese opera history, clarifying the trajectory of the formation and prosperity of Yuan and Ming Northern Zaju, and more clearly revealing the laws governing the origin, development, formation, and prosperity of ancient Chinese opera. In recent years, with the updating of research methods, the expansion of research scope, and the discovery of a large number of theatrical artifacts, more favorable conditions have been provided for the study of Song-Jin Zaju. This paper focuses on the theatrical artifacts discovered since the founding of the People's Republic of China, supplemented by literary records from various dynasties, and attempts to portray the features of Song-Jin Zaju from multiple perspectives and in a more comprehensive context using sociological, economic, marketing, anthropological, archaeological, and religious-folkloric methods. This aims to reduce the confusion and hesitation of later scholars in the study of Song-Jin Zaju.