The Influence Of The Association Between The Monks And The Literati In The Late Qing Dynasty On The Development Of The Opera

The politics and economy in late Qing Dynasty began to appear the situation of comparable complex.There was an impassable ‘identity' gulf separating mummers from upper-class literati in this period.However,with the adjustment of government policies,the gulf became small.For the purposes of learning or flattering,mummers were very willing to get in with literati.There were mummers to liven things up in entertainments of literati in most cases.It had become a distinct cultural phenomenon that mummers crossed a chasm to communicate with literati,which had profound implication for traditional Chinese opera development.Firstly,social structure of late Qing Dynasty changed a lot and government relaxed the policy of control of mummers.With the comparable relaxed political environment and thriving traditional Chinese opera market,mummers transformed from traditional ‘untouchable' to normal ‘citizen'.The improvement of mummers' social status is the prerequisite to associate with literati.Secondly,literati took pleasure to contact with and promote for mummers and wrote poetry,biography and composed ‘arthrography' for them,which not only improved mummers' social status but also bettered their literature cultivation,promoting the development of Chinese traditional opera.Thirdly,there was artistry in the relationship of mummers and literati,and then mummers behaviors became elegant affected by literati.Mummers not only studied and trained hard in skills but also acquired the knowledge of related fields,to get better communication and approval of literati,in the activity of painting and calligraphy,playing stringed instruments,composing and learning.In the end,literati's indirect effect or mummers' initiative changes,through mummerssocial status changes,literati's fondness and mummers eleganization,influenced mummers' artistic pursuit,promoted mummers' artistic taste,and improved traditional Chinese opera skills.