Six Yuan Plays (Penguin Classics)
by Various
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Book Summary Information
Author: VariousTranslator: Liu Jung-En
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); Chinese (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1972-09-30
ISBN: 0140442626
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Book Reviews of Six Yuan Plays (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: An excellent anthology of Chinese drama
Summary: 5 Stars
"Six Yuan Plays" is an anthology whose contents are translated by Liu Jung-en, who also contributes an introduction. The book brings together plays from 13th and 14th century China. The contents are as follows: "The Orphan of Chao," a revenge story by Chi Chun-hsiang; "The Soul of Ch'ien-nu Leaves her Body," a paranormal love story by Cheng Teh-hui; "The Injustice Done to Tou Ngo," a supernatural story of injustice by Kuan Han-ch'ing; "Chang Boils the Sea," a magical love story by Li Hao-ku; "Autumn in Han Palace," a political love story by Ma Chih-yuan; and the anonymous "A Stratagem of Interlocking Rings," a story of political intrigue.Throughout this anthology, I was reminded of the popular film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which also evokes a long-ago era of Chinese history. Many of these plays also reminded me at times of Shakespearean drama. These plays are richly populated with a diverse body of human characters: lovers, villains, emperors, warriors, court officials, and more. There are also a number of supernatural characters such as a Taoist immortal and the Divine Dragon King. Liu Jung-en's English versions of these plays are beautifully written, and contain some really poetic language.
This anthology's marvelous mix of courtly intrigue, romance, magic, folkloric elements, and tragedy is really stunning. Together, these plays constitute an enchanting body of literature. I recommend this collection both for literature classes and for individual readers.
Summary of Six Yuan Plays (Penguin Classics)
Although their Mongol overlords (beginning with the founding of the Yuan dynasty by Kublai Khan in 1280) tyrannized the Chinese in nearly every area of life, the arts enjoyed a new-found freedom. On the one hand oppressed, on the other released from the straight-jacket of Confucianism, the Chinese made the most of recent developments in poetry and drama. Yuan plays were a tonic, an amazing spectacle - colorful outbursts of singing, dancing, music, acting and mime. They poured new life into old stories - oppressors were ridiculed, servants became masters, scenes changed, day followed night in the twinkling of an eye - and audiences flocked to enjoy what must have been complete entertainment.Drama Books
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