The Reflection of Liang Qichao's Concept of Chinese Traditional Opera in Ban Dingyuan Pacifies the Western Regions

Lingyu Ren; Ahmad Kamal Basyah Sallehuddin

doi:10.47405/mjssh.v11i5.4011

Lingyu Ren Faculty of Film, Theatre & Animation, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kampus Puncak Perdana, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Ahmad Kamal Basyah Sallehuddin Faculty of Film, Theatre & Animation, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kampus Puncak Perdana, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v11i5.4011

Keywords: Improvement of Chinese Traditional opera, Liang Qichao, Ban Dingyuan Pacifies the Western Regions, Constitutional monarchy, Social change

Abstract

As a pioneer of the modern Chinese traditional opera reform movement, Liang Qichao's Ban Dingyuan Pacifies the Western Regions deeply embodies his opera concepts and political ideas. This study aims to explore the reflection and practical value of Liang Qichao's traditional opera concepts in this work. Through literature analysis and text interpretation, this paper analyzes the audience-centered creative philosophy, script structure innovation, language innovation, realistic stage art, and political ideology expression in the play. The findings show that the work adopts Cantonese opera to fit the audience, breaks the loose structure of traditional opera with a six-act system, uses dialects and foreign words boldly, and applies realistic stage design. It also reflects Liang Qichao's advocacy of constitutional monarchy and patriotism. It is concluded that this work promotes the modernization of Chinese traditional opera and provides a new path for opera to spread political ideas and promote social reform.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Chen, Y. Y. (2019). 'Turning the Past into the Present': A Further Interpretation of Liang Qichao's' Ban Dingyuan Pacifies the Western Regions' Eastern Translation. Eastern Translation, (2), 27–33. https://read.cnki.net/web/Journal/Article/DFFY201902008.html

Dong, J., & Hu, X. L. (2017). Department of 20th century Chinese drama theory. Anhui Education Press.

Fu, J. (2023). On the art of Chinese traditional opera. The Commercial Press.

Jiao, R. M. (2018). On the Wuxu New Culture Movement. Journal of Liaoning University, 46(5),152–172. https://doi.org/10.16197/j.cnki.lnupse.2018.05.018

Li, J. (1988). On Liang Qichao's opera creation. Journal of Hubei University, (6), 45–49. https://read.cnki.net/web/Conference/Article/DDWX199902001041.html

Li, W. W. (2007). The pioneer of the reform of Cantonese opera in Late Qing Dynasty: On Liang Qichao's "Ban Dingyuan Pacifies the Western Regions". Academic Research, (12), 148–153. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Journal/Article/XSYJ200712029.html

Lian, Y. T. (1991). Liang Qichao and the literary revolution of the Late Qing Dynasty. Lijiang Publishing House.

Liang, Q. C. (2007). New world travel notes. Social Science Academic Press.

Liang, Q. C. (2011). Ice room collection. Zhong Hua Book Company.

Ouyang, Y. Q. (1990). Complete works of Ouyang Yuqian (6). Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House.

Rong, H. Z., Chen, Y. S., & Li, Z. (1984). On lyrics writing: A study of Cantonese opera music creation part 2. Journal of Guangzhou Conservatory of Music, (Z1), 44–52. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Journal/Article/XHYY1984Z1005.html

Satoshi, N., & Ma, Y. (2008). On the founding the Yokohama Datong School in Japan. Oriental Forum, (5), 93–97. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1005-7110.2008.05.017

W, L. (2000) Yokohama Chinese College Centennial Commemorative Special Issue. Yokohama: Yokohama Chinese College

Wei, X. Y. (2024). A comprehensive discussion on the reform of 20th century opera and popular discourse (1902-1949). Journal of Beijing Film Academy, (8), 84–94. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Journal/Article/BDYX202408009.html

Wu, H. Q. (2023). Liang Qichao and the origin of Chinese political science. Academics, (1), 163–182. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-1698.2023.01.017

Xu, Y. L. (2013). Liang Qichao's contribution to the transformation of modern Chinese opera style and Cantonese opera. Southern Red Bean, (2), 11–12. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Journal/Article/NGHD201302008.html

Ying, A. (1980). Late Qing literature collection notes. Zhong Hua Book Company.

Yy, Y. (2005). The origin, formation, and development of Cantonese opera during the Ming and Qing dynasties [Doctoral dissertation, Jinan University]. CNKI. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Dissertation/Article/2006042482.nh.html

Zhang, H. R. (2018). Statistical chart of three education events in the Late Qing Dynasty and the "Three Fold of the Faculty". Modern Chinese History Studies, (2), 153–159. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Journal/Article/JDSY201802014.html

Zhong, X. Z. (2017). The small theater of great literature masters: The experimental spirit of Liang Qichao's "Ban Ding Yuan Ping Western Regions" and its special significance for modern Chinese theater. Research on Chinese Language and Literature, 8(2), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8506.2017.02.009

Zhou, C. Y. (2003). Symbolic symbols on the stage of Chinese traditional opera. Shanghai Theatre, (3), 22–23. https://wap.cnki.net/touch/web/Journal/Article/SHXI200303008.html

Zhuge, Y. (2022, October 14). 55% discount on the full version of 'The Peony Pavilion', meticulously crafted like a cultural relic, with each discount carefully edited. Liberation Daily, (009). https://doi.org/10.28410/n.cnki.njfrb.2022.003903

Zuo, P. J. (2014). The Cantonese phenomenon and its stylistic significance in Liang Qichao's novels and operas. Journal of Sun Yat-Sen University, 54(2), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.13471/j.cnki.jsysusse.2014.02.001