Read more
Kunqu is among the oldest and most refined traditions of the family of genres known as xiqu (music-drama or "Chinese opera"). This book consists of translated performer narrations that illuminate how one of the major Chinese theatrical forms has been taught and transmitted over the past century.
List of contents
Introduction; Lecture 1 "Enquiry of the Rat" ("Fangshu") from Fifteen Strings of Cash; Lecture 2 "The Stirring Zither" ("Qintiao") from The Jade Hairpin; Lecture 3 "The Mad Dream" ("Chimeng") from Lanke Mountain; Lecture 4 "Descending the Mountain ("Xiashan") from Ocean of Sin; Lecture 5 "The Tavern" ("Jiulou") from The Palace of Lasting Life; Lecture 6 "Instating the Statue, Lamenting the Statue" ("Yingxiang Kuxiang") from The Palace of Lasting Life; Lecture 7 "Playing the Ballad" ("Tanci") from The Palace of Lasting Life; Lecture 8 "The Stroll in the Garden" ("Youyuan") and "The Dream Interrupted" ("Jingmeng") from The Peony Pavilion; Lecture 9 "Sword Meeting" ("Daohui") from Single Sword Meeting; Lecture 10 "Writing the Accusation" ("Xie Zhuang") from Tale of the Mermaid Silk Handkerchief; Lecture 11 "The Tryst" ("Jiaqi") from The Western Chamber; Lecture 12 "The Inn on the Lake" ("Hu Lou") from To Win a Peerless Beauty; Postface; Appendices; Index
About the author
Yip Siu Hing is the creator and compiler of Masters' Lectures on One Hundred Kunqu Scenes, of which this volume is an annotated English selection. He is well known for his activities and writings in support of kunqu.
Josh Stenberg is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Sydney. He is the author of Minority Stages: Sino-Indonesian Performance and Public Display (2019) and Liyuanxi-Chinese "Pear Garden Theatre" (2023).
Summary
Kunqu is among the oldest and most refined traditions of the family of genres known as xiqu (music-drama or “Chinese opera”). This book consists of translated performer narrations that illuminate how one of the major Chinese theatrical forms has been taught and transmitted over the past century.
