A Study On The Image Evolution Of Li Kui In Yuan-Dynasty Zaju And Water Margin

Li Kui,as a characteristic character in Water Margin,became a household name with the spread of Water Margin.The story of the Water Margin was not formed overnight.Similarly,the image of Li Kui was gradually shaped and completed in the process of continuous circulation.There are scattered records of Li Kui in historical materials and folk notes of the Song Dynasty.The image of Li Kui recorded in historical materials is far from that in Water Margin,so it is impossible to determine the source of Li Kui’s image.Xiwen in the Song and Yuan dynasties,as a literary style parallel to Yuan-Dynasty Zaju,also includes works about Li Kui.For various reasons,the images of Li Kui could not be analyzed from Xiwen,but only a brief analysis based on the available data.The development of Li Kui’s image in Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty contributes greatly to his character in the novel.With the continuous adaptation and creation of folk artists with civilian consciousness and writers of the drama,Li Kui became the most popular hero in Water Margin operas.The image of Li Kui in Water Margin changes to a certain extent,from the absolute protagonist to the companion of others,becoming typical of a class of characters in the peasant uprising.This thesis begins with an exploration of the evolution of Li Kui’s image,mainly analysing the characteristics of Li Kui’s image in Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty and comparing it with the image of Li Kui in Water Margin to explore the changes in the image of Li Kui in Water Margin.On this basis,the way in which the image of Li Kui in Water Margin is portrayed and the reasons for the changes are analysed.The thesis is mainly divided into three parts: the introduction,the body and the conclusion.The introduction is mainly to analyse the background and significance of the topic,to sort out the main academic research results from three aspects,namely,the study of Li Kui’s image in Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty,the study of Li Kui’s image in Water Margin and the analysis of the evolution of Li Kui’s image in Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty and Water Margin,and to expound the research ideas and research methods of this thesis.The text is divided into five chapters.The first chapter mainly analyzes the image characteristics of Li Kui in the historical materials,folk works,and plays of the Song and Yuan dynasties.This chapter starts from the historical materials and folk notes of the Song Dynasty to search for relevant historical materials about Li Kui.After that,there are the existing materials of Li Kui in the dramas of the Song and Yuan dynasties,from which the general content of the themes in literary and artistic works can be reflected.The second chapter starts from the extant works of the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty related to Li Kui,and analyses the characteristics of Li Kui in the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty from five aspects: appearance,character,language,character relationship and behaviour.In the third chapter,based on a comparative analysis of the characteristics of the image of Li Kui in the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty and Water Margin,the author attempted to summarize the changes in the image of Li Kui in Water Margin,mainly reflected in four aspects: personality characteristics,character relationships,language style,and behavioral significance.Compared to the image of Li Kui in the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty,the image of Li Kui in Water Margin is more unitary and more in line with the identity of representatives of the peasant class.The fourth chapter analyzes the artistic techniques of shaping Li Kui’s image based on the analysis of the changes in Li Kui’s image in Water Margin.The creator of Water Margin drew on Li Kui’s iconic physical features and his bold,fiery,and rude personality from thejn.In order to create 108 vivid characters,the creator transferred the characteristics of the image of Li Kui in the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty to characters of the same type as Li Kui in Water Margin.Through intensification and absurdity,Li Kui is portrayed as a character that is difficult to see in real life and becomes a household name,the “Black Whirlwind”.The fifth chapter attempts to summarize the reasons for the evolution of Li Kui’s image.First of all,the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty and Water Margin were produced in different times,reflecting different historical styles and features of the Yuan Dynasty and the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties.Secondly,the change of the author’s identity and creative mindset also affect the shaping of the characters.The creator of the Water Margin opera was deeply affected by the ravages of the discriminatory policies of the Yuan Dynasty and tended to favour the shaping of the comic Li Kui.However,the author of Water Margin had a different understanding of the peasant uprising represented by Li Kui,and expressed his complex emotions towards the peasant uprising through the shaping of Li Kui’s image.Third,due to the change in the theme of the story,the focus on“loyalty and righteousness” in the Water Margin opera in the Yuan Dynasty and Water Margin is different,and the scope of the creator’s involvement has moved from the rescue of social customs into the political realm.Finally,because of the different stylistic characteristics of the Yuan opera and Water Margin,the creators were selective in their characterisation,and the long chapter-book novel is more conducive to characterisation than Yuan-Dynasty Zaju with four acts and introductions.In a word,the image of Li Kui has become a familiar image after a long evolution.The understanding of Li Kui varies from people in different times.With the combined effects of various factors such as changes in the background and style of the times,he became the familiar “Black Whirlwind” Li Kui.Only when we look at the evolution of Li Kui’s image from a comprehensive perspective can we make a correct evaluation of him.