Ancient Pond Rippled By Fresh Breeze: On Historical Plays Of Tian Han

Historical play is a special type in literature and presents itself concretely according to the subject matter. Tian Han produced ninety-nine plays in his whole lifetime, among which there were twenty historical ones. This thesis focuses on these historical plays and tries to cast some lights on their connotation by thoroughly rethinking.It was his historical plays that brought heroism and romanticism into Chinese modern and contemporary literature. With ceaseless spirit of vanguard, he paved the way for modern plays by magnificent and romantic writing. In his historical plays, Tian Han shared in national hardship, appealed to the government for common people and conveyed truehearted feelings and thoughts triggered by the reality. While holding the belief that the writing of historical plays should serve the society, he struggled for liberation of individuality and love, advocated patriotism and strived for true democracy. This psychological course was so evident that the modern awareness of intellectual could be found without much difficulty.In exordium of this thesis, the definition of historical plays is made clear above all, which is followed by generalizing Tian Han's outlook on historical plays and by giving prominence to the significance of researching his historical plays. And then, the purport and method are formulated.The straight matter starts with referring to his legion historical plays and relevant inspiration coming forth in different periods. Also, the spiritual implication of each text is studied. Compared with other contemporaneous historical plays, his writings took on unique style and features.The spiritual implication of his historical plays can be summarized as salvation for others and himself, which is embodied in saving the nation from crisis, claiming rights for the misery and tiding over difficulties on his own initiative. His lifetime-long activity of art and practice of writing had seen the continuous breakthrough against his own plight under the guidance of modern intellectual view.Tian Han's historical plays succeeded to and renovated Chinese classical opera and modern drama in writing technique and art achievement. The most important aspect of aesthetic characteristic in these plays can be explained by his romantic and lyric tone as well as by his realism and inclination for legendary.