A Study On The Narrative Of Imperial Examination In Yuan Dynasty Dram

The Yuan Dynasty was unique in that the abolition of the imperial examination system led to changes in the survival situation of literati,resulting in more classic works of Yuan opera.Even though the imperial examination was abolished,many literati still longed for and expected it,and they expressed their expectations and emotions through their works.The entire article is divided into four chapters for study:The first part is an overview of the narrative of the imperial examination in Yuan opera.A comprehensive examination of imperial examination plays in Yuan opera,outlining the scientific examination dramas and comparing them with historical facts of the Song and Yuan Dynasties.The creation of imperial examination narratives in Yuan opera also reflects different values of literati,portraying their pursuit of official titles and fame.The second part analyzes the narrative time of imperial examination narratives in Yuan opera.Firstly,the chronological sequence of the narrative is analyzed,where the timing of scientific examination stories corresponds to the order in which they are presented in the opera text.The development and conclusion of events occur on a single timeline.The temporal sequence in the opera includes not only a chronological order,but also flashbacks and interludes,which have different effects but all promote the development of the story.The temporal gap in scientific examination narratives in the opera helps us grasp the rhythm of the entire opera.In addition,the study explores the special significance and connotations of the timing of the "posting of the list".The third part discusses the spatial analysis of scientific examination narratives in Yuan opera,placing scientific examinations within the entire script for study,analyzing their role in promoting the plot and the structure of the opera.The occurrence of scientific examination events expresses the transition of literati’s mentality between their hometown and foreign land.The fourth part is a functional analysis of scientific examination narratives in Yuan opera,classifying them into three categories: marriage and love,pursuit of official titles and fame,and immortal transformation.The three sections analyze each category respectively.The first section discusses the function of scientific examination in marriage and love,promoting the generation of the "happy ending".The second section discusses how scientific examination narratives trigger "adventures" and "transcendence" in immortal transformation plays while on the way to the examination,influenced by Buddhist and Taoist thought.The third section discusses how the protagonist,who successfully passes the imperial examination and enters the officialdom,transforms from a "scholar" to a "gentleman".In the conclusion,the article discusses the lyrics of scientific examination narratives in Yuan opera,which exhibit literati style.The singing lyrics use parallelism,allusion,and references to previous famous lines.The lyrics also employ poetic style,using metaphor and imagery.Finally,the article explores the confidence and anxiety of two different career paths that are expressed in the opera lyrics.This article,through a study of the plot of the imperial examination in Yuan Zaju,summarizes its basic characteristics in narratology,including narrative time,narrative space,and narrative function,and understands the impact of the changes in the imperial examination system in the Yuan Dynasty on the literati of the Yuan Dynasty.