Yuan Dynasty Zaju Studies Based Upon The Shanxi Subjects

Yuan Dynasty Zaju, as it's particular art form and represents a broad social phenomenon to be defined as a very important literary style in Yuan dynasty; meanwhile, Shanxi province, as the cradle of ancient drama and one of the centers of Yuan Music Drama that also has its distinguished position. To integrate both of these two points into cultural research of Shanxi subjects dramas has been wildly concerned by the academic circles and have obtained numbers of results. However, there are few treatises on the research of Yuan music dramas based upon Shanxi subjects. In this dissertation, we will investigate the relations between Yuan music dramas and Shanxi culture from the other point of view which will discuss the Yuan music Dramas through Shanxi-native-characters and Shanxi-native-stories, and then deeply reflect the important position of Shanxi province in Yuan Music Drama's history.The appendix will based on the 162 existing opuses that were collected from "Selected Yuan Dramas" and "Additional Selected Yuan Dramas", and divided them into two steps such as character's origin and the background of main events that happened in different provinces, then arrange them according the quantity and these are the material foundation and analysis bases. In chapter one, we will discuss the historical position of Shanxi in Yuan music drama. In rest of the chapters such as chapter two, three and four we will classify the Shanxi subject drama detailed, and making an integrated and in-depth investigation and research, after that we will concentrate on some important opuses to analyze. Finally, chapter five will opens out the significance in the research of Shanxi subject dramas.Shanxi was a very important province where was famous from its drama culture. There are many remains with its full categories and abundant drama events makes Shanxi to be a cradle of ancient drama and one of the centers of Yuan drama events. On the other hands, Shanxi-native drama writers have always been highly concerned by the academic circles over the past dynasties not only because of the high quality of their opuses but also its broad affect and the immortal contribution to the flourish of Yuan music drama. In Shanxi subject drama, there were 33 kinds of Yuan music dramas that have used Shanxi-natives as their main characters and it's more than others which used non-Shanxi-natives as their characters. Secondly, there were 13 kinds of Yuan music dramas that were based upon Shanxi subject events, though they were not won on the quantity, but each of them was the outstanding work and occupied a decisive position in the research of Yuan music drama. Therefore, to study on the Shanxi subject Yuan music drama has its significant research value and a vast future.According to the classified review and the re-examine on the major opuses of Shanxi subject Yuan music drama, we have found that the content of Shanxi subject dramas have covered the main historical individuals and the events which were happened during the dynasties of past ages, and also we can found that the opuses have reflect the thoughts of literates and the social reality in Yuan dynasty. The characters of Shanxi subject drama have involved in every stratum, at the same time, the characters were also been created differently and abundantly. Shanxi subject dramas have also represent that the writers were highly concerned on the people who live on the bottom of society and their ordinary life, and have drew a picture of the social scene of that times. According to these dramas, we can also find that those drama writers have given a good evaluation to the Shanxi-natives and there are only few differences on this when it compare to the historical recordings. Shanxi subject opuses occupied a relatively important position involved in Yuan music drams by their high quality and meanwhile have a very typical significance for our research. At the same time, it also represents Shanxi's history and culture, additionally has a huge influence on the later creation of Shanxi subject dramas.In this dissertation, classified review, partly focused analyzes and integrated the research materials and comments as the methodologies have been used in order to make a comprehensive study for the Shanxi subject dramas. Shanxi subject dramas have involved a wild range of both characters and events, meanwhile, with its fascinating plot to reproduced historical events, on the other hand, the clearly toward attitude of the writers were also have a big influence for the posterity. Integrate the history and folk-custom to represent the elegant demeanor of Shanxi natives and there their living conditions and meanwhile explain the underlying local culture. It is an innovative work to investigate the evolution process of Shanxi culture and history.