This book offers a stimulating introduction to the Hokkien music drama known as liyuanxi (‘pear garden theatre’), heir and current expression of one of China’s oldest unbroken xiqu (‘Chinese opera’) traditions. It considers the genre’s history prior to the 20th century, its signal successes before and after the Cultural Revolution, and its national prominence today. Beginning with an analysis of the form’s aesthetics and techniques, it proceeds to an overview of its rich and distinctive narrative repertoire, including several dramas unique to the genre.Josh Stenberg illustrates liyuanxi ’s distinctive musical and narrative qualities and presents the performance art’s place, not only in Chinese drama and theatre history, but also in the culture of the historic port city of Quanzhou and the broader Hokkien region and diaspora. This study focuses on the work of the only professional theatre troupe in the genre, the Fujian Province Liyuanxi Experimental Theatre (FPLET), and examines
"This eclectic anthology gathers stories from established and emerging writers in China that display an astonishing range of style and subject matter"--
"This eclectic anthology gathers stories from established and emerging writers in China that display an astonishing range of style and subject matter"--
From the author of Wives and Concubines (titled Raise the Red Lantern in the acclaimed 1991 Oscar-nominated film by Zhang Yimou), Rice and many other major works of contemporary Chinese fiction comes
From the author of Wives and Concubines (titled Raise the Red Lantern in the acclaimed 1991 Oscar-nominated film by Zhang Yimou), Rice and many other major works of contemporary Chinese fiction comes
