A Research On Japanese Sinologist Masaru Aoki's Studies Of Chinese Traditional Opera History

Influenced by Guowei Wang and his masterpiece《Traditional Opera History of Song and Yuan Dynasty》at the beginning of last century, Masaru Aoki who is one scholar in the School of Kyoto Thought chose the Chinese traditional opera history as his research project and then become a very famous Japanese sinologist in the field of Chinese opera history. One of the fruit of Masaru Aoki's study is《Chinese Traditional Opera History of Ming and Qing Dynasty》.This book brings a lot of honor to him both in China and Japan. This MA thesis will firstly introduce the book to Chinese scholar. Then On the base of it the writer will analyze Masaru Aoki's research methods, characteristics and shortcomings of studies. In the process of introducing and analyzing the writer wants the Chinese traditional opera history could be reflected in a more broad cultural view.This MA thesis is divided into four parts. The first part is the brief account of the Chinese opera research in Japanese sinology circles. The second part analyzes Masaru Aoki's research on the history of Yuanqu form three aspects: prospering and declining; schools and stages; Zaju and southern forms of drama. The third part analyzes Masaru Aoki's research on Chinese opera history of Ming and Qing Dynasty form three aspects: the reviving stage of southern forms of drama; the prospering stage of Kunqu opera; the prospering stage of Huabu. Those two parts introduce Masaru Aoki's research and at the same time to compare Masaru Aoki's research with Chinese and western academic circles to find out the academic facts about Chinese opera. All of those are micro check on Masaru Aoki's Chinese opera research. The fourth part is tow conclusions based on the three preceding parts. The first conclusion is Masaru Aoki's conception of Chinese traditional opera history: the research emphasis form opera writing to opera plot; the developing of opera pattern in the time order; the double aesthetic standards of both emphasizing on stage life and the consciousness of innovation. The second conclusion is Masaru Aoki's research methods and characteristics: the "structure" method; research method confined in the literary field; the researcher's appreciation intervene to the research object. The fourth part which is also the last part is the most important part of the thesis. In contrast with the preceding parts this part is the macro examination on Masaru Aoki's Chinese opera research. There is a Chinese saying that is there are other hills whose stones may serve to polish the jade. And the writer expected that the introduction and conclusion of this thesis would be helpful to the Chinese academic circle and also helpful to the Japanese academic circle and even the whole academic circles.