Ming Dynasty Southern Dynasty

The Southern Tsa-chu, which is featured with flexibility and practicability, is a special form of Chinese ancient opera. This thesis is based on the Southern Tsa-chu by literati in the Ming Dynasty, approaches the subject from a macro perspective, and includes the cases study into the macro academic research; the major purpose of this thesis is to identify a proper artistry position for the Southern Tsa-chu in the history of Chinese ancient operas, and provide a broader scope as well as a more precise perspective to the academic study of the Southern Tsa-chu.The thesis is divided into five chapters:Chapter One summarizes the previous and current critic achievements in the area and proposes the significance of studies in the Southern Tsa-chu in Ming Dynasty.Chapter Two approaches from the concept of Southern Tsa-chu and redefines and re-identifies the concept and category of the term on the basis of previous research. The thesis in this chapter outlines the development history of the Southern Tsa-chu in light of the redefined concept.Chapter Three combines the texts research with the analysis of Ming literati's psyche to comprehend the writers' spirit through the texts' artistry, and vise versa. With the combination, the thesis aims at better understanding of the society, culture, and thought in the late half of Ming Dynasty.Chapter Four represents the artistry of the Southern Tsa-chu by Ming literati to explore the ideas and styles of the writers.Chapter Five concludes the development of the Southern Tsa-chu.