Xie Kun Opera Studies

Xie Kun (1784-1844),whose given name at first is Jun,then changed into Kun and who styled himself as PeiHe, his literary name is ChunCaoCiRen(the poet of spring grass),his study name is Spring Grass Study or Orchid Language Book Study. He was born in Ganquan(now Yangzhou) and was a JianSheng(a student of the most advanced governmental academy in Ming and Qing dynasty).Xie Kun leaded a life in misfortune and poverty,made a live for himself by going through various corners of the country. After30years old,he travelled many interests and his tours were extended to the both sides of Changjiang River. His work is Gathering of Spring Grass Study(gathering of works written in this study),including poems, essays,ci(classical Chinese poems),qu(folk tune),as well as paintings and calligraphies, coins and appreciation of flowers and trees.Otherwise,his friends compiled a book named Gathering of Orchid Language, contains Gathering One and Gathering Two.This paper consists three chapters,mainly studied Xie Kun’s life,friends and composition of drama on the base of predecessor’s study achievements in this area,Chapter one,this part mostly studied Xie Kun’s life,friends and works. Firstly,to introduce the experience of him according to different stages of his life, aiming at showing the skeleton of his life.secondly,making further research of the association and contact between Xie Kun and other literati, so we can analyze its possible influence on his composition in drama. Thirdly, to classify,summarize and conclude the works of Xie Kun. Otherwise,as there are some different opinions on Xie Kun’s name,styled name and compositions, we revised these basing on the relevant documents of him.Chapter two,mostly introduced the ideology and connotation of Xie Kun.In the first place, life experience and misfortune written into his works and bestowed brand new meaning by Xie Kun,thus his works full of obvious and evident reflection image of himself. In the second place, Xie Kun often depicted politics in that times and expressed his viewpoints on officialdom and civil-service examination system.In the third place, having a inferior social status and experiencing the jibes and taunts of others,his works are no shortage of the vivid depiction of underprivileged zilches conveying his sympathy and attention on them.Chapter three, mainly studied the artistic idiosyncrasy of Xie Kun’s drama. This part looked into the artistic value of its works’language,structure,plot and scenery grounding on his drama text.From the great amount of drama in drama"interluded in the plays,as well as parts of the reform in role arranging system,we can notice the inheriting and improving of Chinese traditional drama.