The Columbia Anthology of Yuan Drama (Translations from the Asian Classics)

This anthology features translations of ten seminal plays written during the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), a period considered the golden age of Chinese theater. By turns lyrical and earthy, sentimental and ironic, Yuan drama spans a broad emotional, linguistic, and stylistic range. Combining sung arias with declaimed verses and doggerels, dialogues and mime, and jokes and acrobatic feats, Yuan drama formed a vital part of China's culture of performance and entertainment in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To date, few Yuan-dynasty plays have been translated into English. Well-known translators and scholars have supervised the making of this collection and add a short description to each play. A general introduction situates all selections within their cultural and historical contexts. CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction HISTORICAL PLAYS 1. Ji Junxiang, The Zhao Orphan The Zhao Orphan in Yuan Edition 2. Anonymous, Tricking Kuai Tong CRIME AND PUNISHMENT 3. Anonymous, Selling Rice in Chenzhou 4. Meng Hanqing, The Moheluo Doll FOLLY AND CONSEQUENCES 5. Oin Jianfu, The Eastern Hall Elder 6. Li Zhifu, The Tiger Head Plaque FEMALE AGENCY 7. Guan Hanqing, Rescuing a Suiter 8. Shi Junbao, Qiu Hu Tried to Seduce Hid Wife ROMANTIC LOVE 9. Bai Pu, On Hordeback and Over the Garden Wall 10. Li Haogu, Scholar Zhang Boild the Sea Bibliography 6. Li Zhifu, The Tiger Head Plaque, translated by Yoram Szekely, C.T. Hsia, Wai-yee Li, and George KaoPart 4. Female Agency; 7. Guan Hanqing, Rescuing a Sister, translated by George Kao and Wai-yee Li; 8. Shi Junbao, Qiu Hu Tries to Seduce His Wife, translated by John Coleman, James M. Hargett, Kuan-fook Lai, Gloria Shen, and Wang Ming; Part 5. Romantic Love; 9. Bai Pu, On Horseback and Over the Garden Wall, translated by Jerome Cavanaugh and Wai-yee Li; 10. Li Haogu, Scholar Zhang Boils the Sea, translated by Allen A. Zimmerman; Bibliography