Value Reflected in Yue Opera
By Meilian Wu
I think there are two values that reflected through Yue Opera that are still valid and important in today’s society. The first is equality between gender, and the second is commonly acknowledged virtue system within a society.
One major trait of Yue Opera is the all-female-cast. In addition to the performing group, the audience and the plays are also largely dominated by and for women. In other words, Yue Opera is developed and intended for a vulnerable group that is still considered as thus even today. In many plays, female protagonists are bestowed a strong personality and a progressive intention to subvert unfair social principles. For example, in The Butterfly Lovers, Zhu Yingtai breaks the rule that refines girls at home and go to school; in Rescuing a Concubine, Zhao Paner stands out as a redeemer in spite of her gender identity and social status. The emphasis Yue Opera put on women shows an enlightened thinking of female independence and gender equality.
On the other hand, Yue Opera expresses a profound reverence to traditions: the Confucian virtue system that includes kindness and generosity to mankind, filial piety to parents, respectfulness to education and knowledge, etc. In Liu Yi Delivers a Letter, for example, Liu Yi saves the princess in danger but requests no thank for return; in Romance of Western Bower, Yingying and Zhang Gong resemble themselves to Zhuo wenjun and Sima Xiangru to show that their love is based more on talents and knowledge than physical appearance. Even though the contents and meanings of the terms today may not exactly be the same as they were centuries ago, they remind modern audience not only of the lavish cultural legacy left over by our descendents, but also of virtues and norms that make a society righteous and concrete.
Value Reflected in Yue Opera
Value Reflected in Yue Opera
By Meilian Wu
I think there are two values that reflected through Yue Opera that are still valid and important in today’s society. The first is equality between gender, and the second is commonly acknowledged virtue system within a society.
One major trait of Yue Opera is the all-female-cast. In addition to the performing group, the audience and the plays are also largely dominated by and for women. In other words, Yue Opera is developed and intended for a vulnerable group that is still considered as thus even today. In many plays, female protagonists are bestowed a strong personality and a progressive intention to subvert unfair social principles. For example, in The Butterfly Lovers, Zhu Yingtai breaks the rule that refines girls at home and go to school; in Rescuing a Concubine, Zhao Paner stands out as a redeemer in spite of her gender identity and social status. The emphasis Yue Opera put on women shows an enlightened thinking of female independence and gender equality.
On the other hand, Yue Opera expresses a profound reverence to traditions: the Confucian virtue system that includes kindness and generosity to mankind, filial piety to parents, respectfulness to education and knowledge, etc. In Liu Yi Delivers a Letter, for example, Liu Yi saves the princess in danger but requests no thank for return; in Romance of Western Bower, Yingying and Zhang Gong resemble themselves to Zhuo wenjun and Sima Xiangru to show that their love is based more on talents and knowledge than physical appearance. Even though the contents and meanings of the terms today may not exactly be the same as they were centuries ago, they remind modern audience not only of the lavish cultural legacy left over by our descendents, but also of virtues and norms that make a society righteous and concrete.
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