Studies On "Peach-blossom Face" Operas In Ming And Qing Dynasties

Among all operas about the "Peach-blossom Face" Story, there are four written in Ming and Qing Dynasties preserved. They are Visits to the Land of Peach Blossoms and Peach-blossom Face by Chengshun Meng, Peach Blossom Romance by Jingying Zhu, and Chant of Peach Blossom by Xifu Cao. Taking these four Operas as a whole, this thesis is mainly to research not only their common features, but also their differences. The thesis consists of the following five chapters:The chapter one is to explain why the author chooses "Peach-blossom Face" operas as writing materials, and how those operas has already been researched. In this part, author also wants to make clear of the intentions and influences of the thesis.The chapter two, Summaries of the "Peach-blossom Face" operas in Ming and Qing Dynasties, is focusing on operas’ preservation, edition, writters, and brief intruductions, also including the spreading of the "Peach-blossom Face" Story.The chapter three, Common Charecteristics of "Peach-blossom Face" Opera in Ming and Qing Dynasties, takes the four operas as a whole and analyses common features in themes, plots, lyrics and systems, also including and the reason analyses.The chapter four, Differences in "Peach-blosssom Face" Operas in Ming and Qing Dynasties, intends to study their differences in themes, systems and Stage Performances. This chapter also tries to find out the reasons.The Chapter five, Significances and Influences of "Peach-blossom Face" Opera, on the base of the former three chapters discusses their significances in the history of opera researches and their influences on local operas.