Love and Marriage on the Yuan and Ming Stage: Six Zaju Plays from the Period 1250-1500

Love and marriage are perennial topics on stage in East and West. From the very beginning of Chinese theatre, stories of passion and seduction have been popular with playwrights and audiences. Many of the such plays show the influence of the famous love comedy West Chamber by featuring a scene in which a young man attracts, intended or not, the attention of a young girl by his performance on the zither. Once married, smart wives strengthen their virtuous grooms in their resolve and improve ...