A Study Of The Historical Drama In Yuan Zaju

The total number of current existing intact Yuan zaju 元杂剧 is 162,in which the historical drama occupies absolutely. Intentionally or unconsciously, the former researchers neglected its whole research. The thesis makes a systematic and comprehensive research on the historical drama in Yuan zaju from the angle of whole observation. Apart from its introduction and conclusion, the thesis is divided into four major chapters, and about 40, 000 words.Introduction first reviews the research actuality of the historical drama in Yuan zaju, and definitely points out its research means and its significance. Then we distinguish the disputed concept of the historical drama, which is defined in the thesis newly. Finally, all the current existing intact historical dramas in Yuan zaju are accurately counted by means of form. That is the presupposition of the discussion in this thesis.Chapter One: On the prosperity of the historical drama in Yuan zaju. It makes an inquiry into the prosperity of the historical drama in Yuan zaju and its causes. The historical drama in Yuan zaju is not only large quantity, but also more excellent work. It glitters like star. Its prosperous causes are numerous. The thesis tries to find them from three aspects: the stress of the society, the choice of the dramatist and the vocation of the audience, the potential karma between the drama and the history.Chapter Two: On the plot model of the historical drama in Yuan zaju. As a popular literature, in order to cater for the audience in which more are plebs, Yuan zaju is easily classified because of its plot more repetitive. All the historical dramas of Yuan zaju are generalized to be six models: the model of heroes in the troubled times, the model of the fight between the loyal and the evil, the model of the monarch' s love,the model becoming prosperous, the model of gratitude-paying or revenge, the model of morality. These models can typically reflect the society conventions and value, reveal the contemporary mood and interest.Chapter Three: On the artistic aesthetic characteristic of the historical drama in Yuan zaju. The historical drama in Yuan zaju has also formed its artistic characteristic. The thesis outlines its characteristic from five aspects: clear fictive consciousness, aesthetic attribute of describing the history with inner feeling, drama conflict of attaching importance to the inner and making little of the exterior, curious aesthetic purport, the major style of toughness and loose. We can clearly taste the peculiar mien of the historical drama in Yuan zaju.Chapter Four: On the historical position of the historical drama in Yuan zaju. At first reviewing the past, we investigate the naissance course of the historical drama respectively from the influence of the three (the history, the verse literature and popular literature) to the historical drama. Then, with an eye to the future, we research into the change of the historical drama in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, and mainly outline the mature course of the historical drama. By this picturing, we can macroscopically understand the historical drama in Yuan zaju from the angle of Chinese history and civilization, the literature and art, the development course of the whole ancient historical drama, consequently give an exact historical position to the historical drama.Conclusion summarizes the primary viewpoints of the thesis.