Dongjing Menghua Lu (and Other Four) Historiae Research Of Performing Arts

As an important historical archive of social life, culture and political condition of theSong Dynast, the Dongjing Menghua Lu (and other four)(an prose-like documentary in theSong capital city) can never be undervalued in the study of Chinese theater arts. ThisArticle will take the book as evidence, analysis the documented history of "Stage Play"in it and other related historic materials like Qing Bo Za Zhi Jiao Zhu and Ji Lei Pian, tryto "re-play" the Song Dynasty’s "stage play" environment and explore its socialsituation.Dongjing Menghua Lu (and other four) described the situation and development of the"Stage Play" in Song Dynasty from different angles. This article will mainly render the"Stage Play" category, Troupes, and artists at that time as study subjects, to analysis itsinfluence in the Chinese traditional theater art.There are many Kinds of "Stage Play" in Song Dynasty, which basically can becategorized into3main categories–Shuo Chang (Verbal play), Ge Wu (Dancing Play)and You Yi(Entertainment Play) and under each of them there are still many sub-categorieslike Shuo Hua, Song Za Ju, Bai Xi, Kui Xi etc.. For Shuo Chang, there are mainly4kinds of performance–Xiao Shuo, Jiang Jing, Jiang Shi, He Sheng, and other smallershows like Xiang Sheng, Tao Zhen and Shang Mi; Ge Wu includes the official imperial YaYue,Yan Yue and popular folk performances like Xiao Ling, Piao Chang, Zhu Gong Diaoand Song Za Ju; And You Yi is more like games, juggler shows, Geisha Shows and othercompetitions. Among the People, the most popular forms are Bai Xi, Shui Xi and Kui LeiXi. With such a variety of forms,"Stage Plays" provided the condition of the Traditional Chinese theater Arts’ formation, prepared for the transition from "Stage Play" to"Theater Arts".Besides, the Dongjing Menghua Lu (and other four) also included some informationabout the Troupes and artists of that time-massive amount of Troupes, palace musician,army musician, imperial musician, folk geisha, folk musician, street musician and privatetroupe and musician, their styles, performance, and income. With these information, wecan project the social situation of "Stage Play" in that time, study the development of it,then conclude its influence in the history.Combining its history background, social environment and politicalcondition,analyzing the form, venue and artists of the performance, this article base on thestudy of Dongjing Menghua Lu to explore the influence of "Stage Play" in SongDynasty to the Chinese traditional theater art.