Chinese Drama
Tsa-Chu Drama
Zaju (Tsa-Chu Drama) in the Yuan Dynasty belongs to Yuan Qu and as its main branch it was welcomed by both the court and the people. It underwent two stages in the early Yuan and the mid and late Yuan.
At the second stage, dramatists turned their concentration to feelings of love and the fairy and ghost stories as the conditions under the reigning government were rather disappointing. Romance of the Western Chamber by Wang Shifu is typical. The lyrical and fluent verses cause readers to sympathize with the lovers and to dislike their obstructer.
Drama in the Ming and Qing Dynasty reached another peak after the Zaju (Tsa-chu Drama) of the Yuan Dynasty. Dramatic theory and works as well as performance skills were all greatly admired. The famous Beijing Opera was created during this time. The dramatic works include 'Ten Tragedies' and 'Ten Comedies'. The Peony Pavilion is the typical one among these.
Other Forms
In ancient China, as well as the above four forms of literature, there were also others such as historical records, critical works, idioms, allegories, ballads and many legends that had been handed down from generation to generation.
- Last updated on Aug. 08, 2025 by Gabby Li -