Overview

China's most important love comedy, Wang Shifu's Xixiangji, or The Story of the Western Wing, is a rollicking play that chronicles the adventures of the star-crossed lovers Oriole and Student Zhang. Since its appearance in the thirteenth century, it has enjoyed unparalleled popularity. The play has given rise to innumerable sequels, parodies, and rewritings; it has influenced countless later plays, short stories, and novels and has played a crucial role in the development of drama criticism. This translation of the full and complete text of the earliest extant version is available in paperback for the first time. The editors' introduction will inform students of Chinese cultural and literary traditions.

Full Product Details

Author:   Shi-fu Wang ,  Stephen H. West ,  Wilt L. Idema
Publisher:   University of California Press
Imprint:   University of California Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.544kg
ISBN:  

9780520201842

ISBN 10:   0520201841
Pages:   300
Publication Date:   31 March 1995
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

PREFACE FOREWORD by Cyril Birch TABLE OF CHINESE DYNASTIES DRAMA TIS PERSONJE INTRODUCTION 1. The Status ofWang Shifu's Story cfthe Western Wing in Chinese Literature 2. Author and Authorship 3. The Pedigree of the Materials 4. Exceptions to the Rules 5. An Introduction to the World of The Western Wing TRANSLATION Book the First An Introduction to the Story of Oriole Cui and Student Zhang [Eight Satiric Songs Against The Western Wing] The Story cf the Western Wing Play I, Burning Incense and Worshiping the Moon Play II, Icy Strings Spell Out Grief Book the Second [Untitled] to the Tune Basheng Ganzhou The Story of the Western Wing Play III, Feelings Transmitted by Lines of Poetry Play IV, A Clandestine Meeting ofRain and Clouds Play V, A Reunion Ordained by Heaven [Publisher's Advertisement] APPENDICES Appendix I, A Pair cfBattling Quacks Appendix II, A Noontime Dream in the Garden Grove GLOSSARY SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

Reviews

Author Information

Stephen H. West is Professor of East Asian Languages at the University of California, Berkeley. Wilt L. Idema is Professor of Chinese Languages and Literatures at Leiden University.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions