A Study Of A Single Short Play In The Early Qing Dynasty

Zaju of Qing Dynasty is vague in the history of Chinese literature, and the One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty is noticeable because it's an integral part of the Zaju in Qing Dynasty. By researching these operas, we find many outstanding and remarkable works. These operas should be appreciated and studied instead lost in the dust of history.The introduction gives a definition that "the Early Qing Dynasty" includes the reign of Shunzhi, Kangxi and Yongzheng, namely, in AD 1644 to AD 1735. The academia have done some researches about Zaju in Qing Dynasty, but really have paid less attention to the One-act Opera in the Early Qing Dynasty. The definition of short-play arts and One-act Operas, the evolution of One-act Operas and the reasons why it can be popular in the Early Qing Dynasty are explained in the introduction.Chapter One mainly studies the basic inductions and textual criticism. By retrieving and inquiring, there are 50 One-act Operas that include 42 which are rexisting and 8 which are lost. Their records, editions and preservations are explained too.Chapter Two divides the ideological implications of One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty into five aspects through reading and analyzing. The five aspects respectively are concerning about the rise and fall of the country, dissatisfaction with social darkness, sighing life experiences, understanding the meaning of life is a dream and praising talents and leisure interests.The first one reflects the current social situation at that time and literati's opinions about reasons of the death of the Ming Dynasty. The second one describes that literati seriously castigates the dark society and the next one expresses that authors lived a rough life. The fourth one conveys authors' feelings about their lives, namely, exhortative, sighing, satiric and cynical. In addition, the last one merely delivers authous' talents and leisure interests which are lively or affecting.Chapter three analyzes artistic characteristics of One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty and there are four aspects. To begin with, these operas express insipid and rigid plots, lonely performances, a dialogic styles and a autobiographical pattern in writing. What's more, the literary feature is very obvious. Last but not least, One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty approach Southern dramas and also turn to be closet dramas.Chapter four discusses stage performances of One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty. This chapter be divided into two parts, the one is the recordation of these opears'performances. The other talks about accompaniment of musical instruments, common systematic tunes, posture expressions and costumes of One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty.Chapter five put One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty into vertical axis of the Chinese literature. Historical backgrounds of Ming and Qing Dynasty are similar, because people both are lived under foreign domination. However, national consciousness is differently reflected by operas of Ming and Qing Dynasty. Appearances mainly are the attitude to the new dynasty, the protagonists and rational thinkings. Many features of One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty inherit Ming Dynasty's, such as authors' status, works' subjects and styles. One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty also deeply affects One-act Operas in the middle and later periods of Qing Dynasty.Chapter six discusses the relationship between One-act Operas and academic trend in the Early Qing Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism tends to Zhuxi from Wang Yangming, the study of Confucian classics tends to Han from Song and there are many enlightenmnet thoughts. Although the One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty is noticeable, they reflect social backgrounds, ages characteristics and literati mentalities and some works express outstanding artistic appeal. Therefore, the position and influences of One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty should be calmly and objectively treated.All in all, One-act Operas in the Early Qing Dynasty should't be shelved and ignored, instead should be appreciated and studied bacause they have unique value.