A Complete History of Classical Chinese Dramatic Theory
Authored by Yu Weimin, Sun Rongrong
Translated by Pan Zhidan and Yang Junfeng
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-80589-050-8
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-80589-051-5
Page: 908
Pub date: 30th April 2026
About the Book:
This book presents the first comprehensive study tracing the evolution of dramatic thought in China from its earliest ritual origins to the modern era. Drawing on a wide range of classical texts, commentaries, and critical writings, the book systematically explores the formation, composition, performance, and aesthetics of Chinese theatre across dynasties. Through meticulous examination of key theorists and seminal works, the author reconstructs the intellectual development of dramatic theory, revealing how ideas on form, language, music, emotion, and performance gradually shaped a distinctive Chinese tradition of drama. The study situates these theories within their cultural and historical contexts, offering both a chronological framework and critical interpretation that illuminate the richness and depth of China’s dramatic heritage. This volume serves as an essential reference for scholars and readers interested in classical literature, performing arts, and the history of Chinese aesthetics.
A Complete History of Classical Chinese Dramatic Theory
Yu Weimin is a leading scholar of classical Chinese drama, specializing in premodern theatre (particularly nanxi and dramatic prosody). Formerly a professor and doctoral supervisor at Nanjing University, he is now a specially appointed professor and doctoral supervisor at Wenzhou University.
His influential works—including A Study of Song-Yuan Southern
Drama, The Prosody of Classical Chinese Qu Literature, and A Complete History of Classical Chinese Dramatic Theory—have earned national recognition. Two were selected for the National Achievements Library of Philosophy and Social Sciences, winning top awards from China’s Ministry of Education, while his 15-volume Collection of Historical Dramatic Commentaries received the prestigious China Government Publishing Award. Honored as a National May 1st Labor Medalist and Zhejiang Provincial
Model Worker, he serves as Executive Vice Chairman of the Chinese Classical Drama Society and directs the Zhejiang Traditional Opera Research and Heritage Centre, a provincial key research base.Sun Rongrong is a professor at the School of Liberal Arts, Nanjing University and a visiting professor at the School of Humanities, Wenzhou University. She serves as Executive Council Member of the Wenxin Diaolong Society of China and Council Member of the Chinese Ancient Literary Theory Society. Her major scholarly works include Studies on Wen Xin Diao Long (The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons), The Critical Thinking Modes of Ancient Chinese Literature, and Textual Research on Liu Xie and Wen Xin Diao Long. She has published over 70 academic papers in journals such as Literary Review and Studies in Art and Literature.
