Yuan Opera (Zaju)
In 1279 - 1368 AD, all of China came under the rule of the Mongolian empire led by Kublai Khan. It was in this dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty, that the Chinese themselves were hated and oppressed in their very own country by the ruling forces. Even the imperial examination, which had long been a crucial factor for determining the scholar-officials who would take part in China's politics, had been abolished by the Mongols. Citizens of China were looked down upon, and none of them could play any significant role in their own country's political happenings. Confucian values that had long been observed were destabilized by the Mongol rule.
Finding ways to resist, Confucian scholars started focusing more on the arts, writing plays to express their resentment towards the conquerors, which were then turned into theatre performances. Theatre had become a subtle method, an indirect way, of expressing criticism towards the oppressors. The themes were certainly apt for their time: romantic escapism towards religion, heroism against corruption and oppression, tragedies of the war and of separation with loved ones, and many more.
Finding ways to resist, Confucian scholars started focusing more on the arts, writing plays to express their resentment towards the conquerors, which were then turned into theatre performances. Theatre had become a subtle method, an indirect way, of expressing criticism towards the oppressors. The themes were certainly apt for their time: romantic escapism towards religion, heroism against corruption and oppression, tragedies of the war and of separation with loved ones, and many more.
Zhe & Xiezi
The play script of Zaju consists of four (4) zhes and one (1) xiezi. Zhes were the main acts of the play composed of music accompanied with actions and spoken parts in between music. The usual progression of the four acts were: 1) setup, 2) development, 3) climax, and 4) resolution. Each zhe was marked by a different gong diao sound. The xiezi served as an interlude or a prologue performed by a character to enhance the plot.
Characters
Yuan Dramatists
The language used was mainly the vernacular of its day but the sung “arias” (expressive melodies performed by one singer) employed sophisticated lyrics. 171 complete Yuan dramas are known today.
At the beginning, one of the supporting characters explained the plot to the audience, after which the leading actors appeared. Only the leading actors sang. Singing, acting, mime and drama merged together, forming an operatic whole. The most famous of the Yuan dramatists were “The Four Yuan-Period Masters”:
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Romance of the Western Chamber, written by Wang Shifu, is a story of a young couple falling in love without the approval of their parents.
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