청대 궁정 연극 《勸善金科》 연구

Abstract

This paper examines the characteristics of the revised version of the Qing dynasty court drama The Golden Standard for Exhortation to Virtue (Quanshan jinke) and explores the stage aesthetics of court grand operas. The Qianlong edition of The Golden Standard, included in the Collection of Ancient Opera Scripts (Guben xiqu congkan), features more elaborate content and stage directions compared to the earlier Kangxi edition. Notably, the final conclusion focuses on highlighting the prestige of the Qing Empire and portraying the Qianlong Emperor as the leader of the Buddhist world and a unifying figure for neighboring countries. Although the scene of eight foreign kings paying tribute may not reflect actual events, its grandeur is overwhelming. Additionally, the stage art, including set design, achieves the pinnacle of aesthetics that cannot be witnessed in folk performances. The play meticulously distinguishes between the appearances of humans and ghosts and carefully specifies the entrances and exits they use. This goes beyond the simple matter of doorways, revealing a complex set of entry and exit rules based on characters' personalities and roles. This reflects the play's intention to convey more than just a story, aiming to provide the audience with moral lessons and profound reflections on the cosmic order. The requirement to make everything as visible and explicit as possible is clearly evident in the dramatic composition and theatrical expression throughout the narrative.