Studies in the Chinese Drama (Classic Reprint)

A clear, illustrated survey of China’s imperial stage and its lasting traditions. This study examines the Chinese drama, focusing on its origins, forms, and the social world that supports the theatre. Compiled from scattered texts and illustrations, it aims to inform rather than argue, offering a practical roadmap to understanding a theater tradition that has shaped centuries of performance. The book invites readers to see how native standards, ritual, and craft come together on the stage.This edition centers on the Imperial drama, tracing how dances, music, céremonial ritual, and evolving drama styles contributed to a living, popular art. Readers will encounter the roles of actors, the design of costumes and symbols, and the daily life of theatres, from makeshift mats to city stages, revealing how performance communicates history, culture, and belief. Origins and evolution of Chinese drama from ancient ritual to the imperial stage Three major types of plays and how singing, language, and tradition differentiate them How actors train, perform, and navigate social norms in a traditional theatre world Costume, makeup, stage conventions, and symbolic design used in performanceIdeal for readers of theatre history, Asian studies, and anyone curious about how a legendary drama tradition continues to resonate in modern performance. Read more