chuanqi and theatre

[reitia]

Hello friends,

 

I am very interested in learning everything I can about Chuanqi literature from the Tang Dynasty, and its subsequent adaptation for the theatre. Books and essays in English translation on this subject do not seem to be very abundant. I'd like to read the complete Chuanqi texts (in translation, as unfortunately I can't read Chinese) and the plays derived from them, for the sake of comparison.

 

Can anyone help?

[xuexiansheng]

Try Traditional Chinese Stories: Themes and Variations by Y.W. Ma and Joseph S. M. Lau, a good selection and excellent translations. The suggested readings section will give you a good start for further research. You should be able to order it online, or I've seen it at a few university libraries, it is still used in courses. Good luck!

[reitia]

Dear xuexiansheng,

 

Thank you very much for this information. I will try to order this book, which is surely essential for my research.

 

Are Chuanqi theatre adaptations still performed today in China?

[mouse]

 

 

Are Chuanqi theatre adaptations still performed today in China?

 

Yes, most notably The Peony Pavilion. But chuanqi plays have of course gone through numerous changes since the Ming dynasty, and it's mainly chuanqi that evolved into local styles of Chinese 'opera' like Kunqu and Peking opera that have been transmitted onto the modern stage — The Peony Pavilion again being a perfect example.