Study On Yuan Changying’s Dramatic Thought

Yuan Changying(1894-1973),as an early female playwright,drama critic and translator in China,her drama theory is rich in content,which contains profound theatrical ideas.Yuan Changying believes that both drama creation and drama criticism should take enlightenment as the primary purpose,and her pursuit of enlightening spirit runs through her entire process of drama creation and criticism.Through a close reading of the texts of Yuan Changying’s theatrical works and drama criticism,her ideas about theatrical creation,theatrical function and drama criticism can be discovered.In terms of drama creation,Yuan Changying believes that there is a "phenomenon of cooperation between nature spirit and nature spirit" between playwrights and audiences,and Yuan Changying believes that in order to better achieve cooperation between nature spirits,playwrights need to have two characteristics,one is good at constructing theatrical illusions,and the other is language humor.In terms of theatrical functions,Yuan Changying believes that drama has three functions,the first is to arouse the audience’s appreciation and give people entertainment;The second is to promote understanding between people;Finally,there is the pleasurable spirit.If a playwright can do the above three points,his work is a qualified theatrical work.In terms of drama criticism,Yuan Changying believes that the methodology of criticism includes sociological criticism and aesthetic criticism,the value of criticism includes enhancing understanding and guiding creation,and the true criterion of criticism lies in whether the playwright can let the audience see his carefully constructed theatrical illusion,whether it can make the audience’s nature spirit change,and whether it can enhance the understanding between people.Yuan Changying’s theatrical thought has important enlightenment significance for current Chinese theater creation and drama criticism: first,to preserve the spirit and expand empathy;the second is to enhance humor and construct poetry;The third is to base ourselves on the present and innovate the old.