From Wei Liangfu To Ye Tang

Du Qu Subject is an important part of traditional Qu Subject. In its broadest sense, Du Qu not only includes singing, but also partly relates to music composition. Theorization of Du Qu happened in Ming and Qing Dynasty. Such theorization was realized together with the development of South-North Qu especially the prosperity of Kun Qu. The aim and approach of this thesis is to capture several critical Du Qu Masters and their Du Qu theory and study them. Through getting the general idea from these specific points, this thesis tries to summarize the general thread from origination of Du Qu Subject theories to development of them, until their finalization in Ming and Qing Dynasty.The four famous Du Qu masters in Ming and Qing Dynasty captured in this thesis are Wei Liangfu, Shen Chongsui, Xu Dachun and Ye Tang. This thesis is divided into four chapters to verify and discuss their lifetime and theories in Qu Subject.Chapter 1 discusses Wei Liangfu’s lifetime and his theories on Qu Subject. Wei Liangfu is honored as Emperor of Qu by later generations. He is the most important Du Qu master and Du Qu theorist. His most important contribution is to improve the traditional Kunshan Qiang. Based on this, the new Kunshan Qiang invented by him became the foundation of the later prosperity of Kun Qu. His all-life experience in Du Qu in all was presented in his more than ten Qu theories. His Qu theories was the first theoretical summary of Du Qu rules of Kun Qu. This theory is of initiative importance. This chapter verifies and discusses some arguable questions about his lifetime, analyzes the process and content to his improvement to Kunshan Qiang, and summarizes related problems regarding to his Qu theories.Chapter 2 discusses Shen Chongsui and his Qu theories. Shen has two famous books, “Xian Suo Bian E” and “Must Know for Du Qu”, which are handed down till nowadays. His research was focused on character pronunciation of Du Qu. Concentrating in the core of character pronunciation, he summarized and discussed various approaches on how to pronounce characters clearly and correctly. He also discussed about historical change in singing way of South-North Qu. The relationship between common language and dialects etc. was also discussed. This chapter summarizes and discusses his theories in four parts: North Qu Theory, Si Sheng Kou Fa Theory, Qie Zi Chang Fa Thoery and Zheng Yin Fang Yin Theory.Chapter 3 systematically discusses Xu Dachun ’s several approaches on Fa Sheng Tu Zi in Chang Qu and Xing Qiang, through his introduction of Yin Yun Subject into Qu Subject, combining with experience in Chang Qu. This chapter summarizes his Chang Zi Kou Fa Theory and Xing Qiang Kou Fa Theory separately, with the core of his Kou Fa Theory.Chapter 4 discusses Ye Tang and his Qu score. Ye Tang is the most famous Du Qu master in Qing Dynasty. His sing way impacts the people as of now. His Du Qu concept and approach was poured into the Na Shu Ying series Qu scores composed by him. This chapter discusses his Du Qu theories in two angles–his logic in selecting Qu from Qu scores and the structures of Qu scores.This thesis gives special attention to the commonalities and interrelationship among these four Du Qu theorists during individual analysis to their theories. Conclusions are given as below:Wei Liangfu initiated the road to Du Qu theorization, and gave out series of fundamental guidelines. Shen Chongsui captured the core of Du Qu theories indicated by Wei Liangfu–the Zi Qiang aspect, deeply and theoretically dug the character pronunciation, and discussed regarding to sing way related to character pronunciation. Xu Dachun and Shen Chongsui has common focusing points. But from the point of the detailed realization of Zi Qiang, the Du Qu Kou Fa Theory, which is systematically elaborated in descriptive approach, owns its great importance in methodology. Ye Tang carried on the predecessor’s focusing points, adopted their theories, and created an new special approach to provide patterns for Du Qu through compiling scores for Du Qu. The job of Ye Tang marked the finalization of Du Qu theories. Its impact still exists nowadays. There are great commonalities and succession among these four Du Qu masters’ studying interest areas, important focusing points and ideas on Qu Subject. This drove an continuous improvement on Du Qu Subject. Meanwhile, their support and supplement to each other’s theories formed the complete theoretical structures of Du Qu Subject. That is the main development thread of Du Qu theories in Ming and Qing Dynasty.