Critizing On Issei Tanaka's Study Of The History Of Chinese Operas

The research on Traditional Chinese Opera was launched in Japan in a relatively earlier time and characterized by the integration of traditional and modern methodology. Within the last few decades, Issei Tanaka has been one of the leading lights of Chinese study in Japan and brought Chinese academic circles new fresh air with the angle of folk- customs on his Chinese Opera research. He has filled in some important academic gaps in the fields of Chinese Opera studies with creative angles and approaches. On this basis, he established his own framework for the study of Traditional Chinese Opera and the History of Chinese Opera and thus formed a complementary relationship with Chinese Opera research in China.The paper will select some representative and illuminating views and methodology from Issei Tanaka's research and it can be divided into four parts:In chapter I , 'Summary: academic background and biography' , the paper will introduce the general picture of the Traditional Chinese Opera studies in Japan and the academic tendency so as to fully grasp his scholarly background. It will also summarize his academic experience and research achievements;In chapter II, 'Issei Tanaka's research on the earlier history of Traditional Chinese Opera ' , the paper will comment on Tanaka's opinions about some key issues of the earlier history of Traditional Chinese Opera, such as the origin and occurrence of Chinese Opera as well as the bud and formation of Chinese Opera, especially discloses his view on ' Chinese Opera originated form sacrifice' and the process of ' the way of its occurrence ' .Then the third chapter discusses Issei Tanaka's research on Chinese Opera History of Ming and Qing dynasties in three ways: the sacrifice and dramatic performance of the southern clans in Ming and Qing dynasties, the development of Chinese drama in Ming and Qing dynasties and the differentiation and diffusion of the scripts of dramatic plays. This chapter will describe the development and diffusion of local opera tunes according to the rise and fall of the society stratum which dominated the dramatic performance.The last chapter 'Conclusion: conception and methodology ' analyzes Issei Tanaka's conception of Chinese Opera History and sums up his research methods in order to provide some useful experience and lessons for domestic drama society.