The Research On The Development Of Play-within-a-play In Chinese Classical Dramas

As a kind of phenomenon, a structure, and a writing method of drama, the application of Play-within-a-play can be traced back to long time ago in dramas of China and foreign countries. Quite a lot of articles about Play-within-a-play have been published. Nevertheless, some of the articles pay attention to the Play-within-a-play in foreign dramas or up-to-date movies only, others put those of China and foreign countries together to introduce. Dramas with Play-within-a-play of Chinese own are not been studied adequately and deeply. The definitions given by them differ from each other. Therefore, on the basis of analyzing the articles on Play-within-a-play that have been published, this thesis will define it again in a new manner of its own, then will search and organize the dramas including"Play-within-a-play"in Chinese literary works of all ages in order to discern the whole process and evolvement of it.Play-within-a-play of Chinese ancientry is the emphases in the dissertation. Play-within-a-play is analyzed in this dissertation according to the historical sequence, which is divided into four phases. Then this dissertation canvasses the different characteristics of every phase from different points of view. Furthermore, it contrasts the Chinese dramas containing Play-within-a-play with those of other countries, surveys them afresh using modern artistic theories.Firstly, some foregone definitions of Play-within-a-play are discussed in this dissertation, its own definition is put forward, which deems that Play-within-a-play is exactly"acting in a drama". In the light of this definition, quite a lot of dramas that have been considered as Play-within-a-play in foregone articles are eliminated in this dissertation. There are substantive dramas from antiquity to modern times in China. Whereas, the foregone articles on this field found only a few from them, and they never deal with the development of Play-within-a-play. This dissertation searches for the dramas more widely in all kinds of literatures by all manner of means. Based on these dramas, it gropes for the history conditions, reasons for use, and the developing venation of Play-within-a-play, with its influence on modern dramas producing as also, including"Neng-pai Drama"in Modern and the Contemporary Times and some new dramas which were never been mentioned as Play-within-a-play and attached importance to before. The end of this dissertation analyzes the Play-within-a-play in both China and foreign countries, summarizes their characteristics, their influence on the other side. At last, it forecasts the development in the future.Through the research in this dissertation, it shows that the phenomenon of Play-within-a-play was the involuntary result with the Chinese classical dramas became more and more mature. The dramatists who were familiar with drama stage invented it, and it is the Chinese special Play-within-a-play without the influence of foreign dramas. They have their own characteristics in every period of development in Chinese history. Chinese dramas grew up from miscellaneous feats and they are developing towards wider integration of all kinds of artistic forms. Play-within-a-play has been attached importance to by dramatists as a method of inditing dramas first midst and last. In the present age, all kinds of artistic forms are used for reference, during the synthesis and amalgamation they may bring out the best in each other. Under this kind of environment of cultural communication, if Play-within-a-play is used better and if it uses the experience of foreign dramas and movies for reference, more works that are classical will be indited with better dramaturgic effect. They will bring our age-old Chinese classical dramas with new vitality.