The Study On Anthologies Of Traditional Opera In Ancient China

Anthologies of traditional opera in ancient China are collections of representative single Ju, single act or single Qu which were selected from a vast number of ancient traditional opera according to collector's intention (literature, act ,music etc.),certain rules (both Qu and dialogue are selected or just Qu )and some sort of style(in the order of modes or Ju).These anthologies show three external forms : selected Ju ,selected Chu and selected Qu , and they have internal value such as read, sing (without make-up) and act.The developing process of these anthologies can be divided into three phase : Beginning with publishing of "Thirty Yuan Editions of Zaju" traditional opera anthology entered into its first stage and kept rough till Jiajing, Longqing reign in Ming Dynasty. From the year of Wanli Chuanqi(one important form of Chinese classical opera) came to its mature both in the system of write and act .In additional, having been experienced about one hundred years of brewing and testing ,traditional opera anthologies show its steady and diversity .In this period ,anthologies of Zaju and Chuanqi were in majority. From the reign of Kangxi and Yongzheng traditional opera anthologies changed accompanying with the declining of Chuanqi and the flourishing of local opera. On the one hand , these anthologies summed up the essence of theatrical pieces of Chuanqi, on the other hand , they absorbed the excellent theatrical pieces of local opera . So the selected works including various opera forms became the main trend of opera anthology . Classical opera anthology went through a press of developing from folk and went back to folk , getting along the arrangement of the scholar class . This process is a regress of qualitative change.The text of opera anthology is the content of these selected works and also the important form that shows the judge of the collector and the acceptor for concrete theatrical pieces. Because of the few selected works from theatrical pieces of florid tune, this thesis mainly argues three kind of texts: Zaju, Xiwen, Chuanqi.Zaju of Yuan Dynasty in anthologies has two basic forms : full text and single act and the number of the former is the largest. The whole text can be seen today is only "story of the western wing". The single act can be found in the anthologies of Quxuan and singing without make-up . Its selecting rule is the modes and thenames of tunes , its content is the verse and its requirement is "music". From the content of YuanZaju anthologies we can the following conclusion : Firstly , the theatrical pieces have converge taxis. Secondly , the subject of these pieces are both wide and concentrated .Thirdly , the distribution of writer and period of these pieces are all relative and concentrated . The selected works of YuanZaju in Ming and Qing Dynasty can almost be viewed as the master copy for act. From the aspect of anthology , the act form shows three shapes : The first is singing verse without make-up . The second is performance on the stage . And there is also an especial form : newly playing some single act text which have been absorbed and reformed by Chuanqi .The content of MingZaju anthologies show sthat :Firstly, the selected theatrical pieces are scattered .Secondly, the subject of pieces are both wide and concentrated . Thirdly , the former writer are welcomed relatively.Xiwen in traditional opera anthologies mainly has two forms : full text and single act. Its content demonstrate that: Firstly, the theatrical pieces of Xiwen in the traditional opera anthologies are concentrated . Secondly , the selected works ofXinwen in early Ming Dynasty hold in dominate position . Its usual act form is selecting certain act to play which can divided into two kinds : sing Qu and perform Ju . The former pays attention to the rhyme and diction of Quci, while the latter pays more attention to the plot prompts . The relative concentrated single act in Xiwen anthologies explain that the theatrical pieces of Zhezixi act in Ming and Qing Dynasty is relatively steady.Anthol...