Textual Research On Li Yu’s Structure Theory

Combining comprehensive theoretical system and fruitful practical experience, Li Yu is the epitome of Chinese opera. He set up rules for Chinese opera composing by reviewing existing theoretical framework. Li’s theories are mainly recorded in Chapter of Lyrics and Tunes, Chapter of Rehearsal in Impromptu Pieces as well as A Tiny Argument on Lyrics. Descendants combined Chapter of Lyrics and Tunes and Chapter of Rehearsal into Li Weng on Opera, or On Opera.The academics have focused on Structural Approach of Li Yu’s view on opera composing. Currently, the discussion concentrated on the key theme and structure. Establishing Key Theme, Intensifying Needlework, and Reducing Clues have been discussed more than Abandoning Sarcasm, Originality, Abandoning Absurd, and Assessing Reality. The author paid attention to the context in Li Yu’s age by referring to On Opera and Ten Tunes of Li Weng. By broadening the definition of structure, the author illustrate more on Abandoning Sarcasm, Originality, Abandoning Absurd, and Assessing Reality to argue the consistency of Li Yu’s theory and composing practice. The essay consists of Prelude, Main Part and Epilogue. The Main Part is divided into three chapters.The Prelude gives an introduction of the relevant literature on Li Yu’s Structure Theory, which justifies the choice of research question.The first chapter focuses on Abandoning Sarcasm. The first part analyzed the internal value of Abandoning Sarcasm by arguing the social function of opera, the ethics concern of composers, the distinguishing between individual grievance and public grievance, and Li Yu’s perspective on Abandoning Sarcasm. The second part presents an in depth discussion on the reasons of Li Yu’s advocacy on Abandoning Sarcasm. Three major reasons were discovered: the influence of School of Reality in early Qing Dynasty, the Tendency of Avoiding Imprisonment in the Era of Literature Coercion, and the Criticism on School of Index.The second chapter is a special research on Originality, which is divided into internal value and reasoning. The internal value part refers to Ten Tunes of Li Weng, which discussed Originality from key theme, plots, pattern, and language. The reasoning part discussed the reason of emphasizing Originality through analysis on style, characteristic and time, and audience.The third chapter researches on Abandoning Abandoning Absurd and Assessing Reality, which supplement Structure Approach through discussion of internal value and reasoning.The epilogue listed critiques on Li Yu’s On Opera by scholars. Also the epilogue pointed out the potential of further research.