Wilt L Idema

Translations from Chinese popular literature of the late-imperial and early republican periods are still very rare, and selections that are devoted to a specific genre or dialect rarer still. These translations of traditional Hakka popular literature are not only a contribution to a broader knowledge of traditional Chinese folk literature, but also contribute to the study of Hakka culture as reflected in these racy songs and exciting narratives. This book is the first extensive selection in English of traditional Hakka mountain songs (shange) and long narrative ballads in various genres. One chapter is devoted to songs and ballads on Hakka migration to Taiwan and Southeast Asia in 18th to 20th centuries. The selection of mountain songs is primarily based on a collection compiled before 1949. The ballads selected focus on texts that were widely popular in late-Qing and early Republican times, but post-Liberation performances and new compositions have been included for contrast. All translations are provided with an introduction and annotations. Contents:Mountain Songs:Mountain Songs collected by Huang ZunxianMountain Songs collected by Zhong JingwenMountain Songs collected by Luo XianglinMountain Songs collected by Li JinfaMore Declarations of Love and of DespairNarrative Ballads:Ten-Mile PavilionThe Tale of Tang XianSelling LanternsBamboo-Clappers Songs:Gao WenjuLiang Sizhen and Zhao YulinSecond-Hand Zhang Rents out his WifeMorals and MoreMigration and Emigration:Push and PullDestination TaiwanDestination Singapore and BeyondAppendices:An Old and a New Ten-Mile PavilionAn Alternative Gao WenjuThe Slave Girl's Lament: A Revolutionary Bamboo-Clappers SongThe Lost Romance of the Career of Yap Ah Loy Readership: Students and general public who are interested in understanding traditional Chinese folk literature and Hakka culture. Keywords:Hakka;Folk Literature;Mountain Songs (Shange);Bamboo-clappers Songs (Zhubange);Migration and Emigration

Traditional Hakka Songs and Ballads

Passion, Poverty and Travel

Stephen H West

This book offers a complete translation of four early plays of the Yang Family Generals. The story of the Yang Family Generals, particularly its female generals, was a perennial favorite on the Chinese stage in the 19th and 20th centuries. In detailing the role of this military family in the Song-Khitan wars of the late 10th and early 11th centuries, these four plays are all in the form of zaju, a type of play that originated in the 13th century. These plays are from the 15th and 16th centuries and allow a glimpse into earlier renditions of the Yang Family saga, which is a decidedly more male-centered tradition than that performed in the Qing dynasty. This volume offers the only complete English-language translation of these early plays. These plays allow access to the earliest phase in the development of the Yang Family saga. The plays provide information on the staging of large battle scenes on the stage and have considerable literary and cultural value. Contents:The Eighth Great Prince Opens a Proclamation and Saves a Loyal VassalAt Bright Sky Pagoda Meng Liang Steals the BonesXie Jinwu Underhandedly Tears Down Clear Breeze MansionYang Six Lines Up His Troops to Defeat the Heavenly ArrayAppendix 1: A Summary of Expanded Account of the Loyalty and Bravery over Successive Generations of the Yang FamilyAppendix 2: A Summary of the Relevant Chapters from An Account of [The Prince] of Southern Song and a Summary of An Account of the Northern SongAppendix 3: The Ming Play The Three PassesAppendix 4: The Theft of the Bones: Three Versions Readership: Graduate and undergraduate students, academic researchers and scholars who are interested in Chinese literature and Chinese theater, Chinese military and martial culture; general audience interested in Chinese folklore and Chinese history. Keywords:Yang Family Generals;Khitan-Song Wars;Zaju Drama;Warfare;Emperor and Imperial Relatives;Popular LiteratureReviews: “As an introduction to stories that continue to resonate with Chinese audiences now centuries after their earliest versions, one could not find a more suitable, or enjoyable, collection than this.” Robert E. Hegel Washington University, St. Louis, United States

Four Early Plays

The Generals of the Yang Family

This volume is the most extensive social and cultural history of twentiethcentury Huangmei Opera to date. A regional Chinese theater originating in the Anqing countryside, Huangmei Opera gained popularity with the success of the 1950s play and movie, Tianxian pei 天仙配 (Married to a Heavenly Immortal). Through a case study of this work, the author juxtaposes the complex process of rewriting and revising the play and movie against the rapidly changing cultural and ideological climate of the Communist theater reform movement. As a result, the traditional theme of filial piety becomes a struggle over class and free love. This volume features a full translation of the original play and its revision in the 1950s, as well as selected articles by scriptwriters, directors, performers, and critics. These primary sources allow readers to gain access to inside views of the contemporaries and their political and artistic concerns. "Wilt Idema is one of the most important scholars in Chinese literary and cultural studies. Few in the academia can emulate him in both the spectrum of specializations and the depth of scholarship. From Yuan drama to Ming fiction, and traditional folk culture to modern performing arts, Idema’s work demonstrates a Sinologist's dedication, erudition, and originality at its best. Tianxian pei is arguably the most popular play in midtwentieth century China. In his book, Idema discusses the play’s roots and ramifications, its incarnations in multiple genes and medial forms, and its significance in modern Chinese cultural politics. His critical insight is illuminating and his translational expertise impeccable. The Metamorphosis of Tianxian pei is a major contribution to the studies of Chinese folklore, literature, theatre, and media." by David Derwei Wang, Harvard University

Wilt L Idema

About

Books

Join the club