Six Yuan Plays

Rating:
Summary: An excellent anthology of Chinese drama
Review: "Six Yuan Plays" is an anthology whose contents are translated by Liu Jung-en, who also contributes an introduction. The book brings together plays from 13th and 14th century China. The contents are as follows: "The Orphan of Chao," a revenge story by Chi Chun-hsiang; "The Soul of Ch'ien-nu Leaves her Body," a paranormal love story by Cheng Teh-hui; "The Injustice Done to Tou Ngo," a supernatural story of injustice by Kuan Han-ch'ing; "Chang Boils the Sea," a magical love story by Li Hao-ku; "Autumn in Han Palace," a political love story by Ma Chih-yuan; and the anonymous "A Stratagem of Interlocking Rings," a story of political intrigue.

Throughout this anthology, I was reminded of the popular film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which also evokes a long-ago era of Chinese history. Many of these plays also reminded me at times of Shakespearean drama. These plays are richly populated with a diverse body of human characters: lovers, villains, emperors, warriors, court officials, and more. There are also a number of supernatural characters such as a Taoist immortal and the Divine Dragon King. Liu Jung-en's English versions of these plays are beautifully written, and contain some really poetic language.

This anthology's marvelous mix of courtly intrigue, romance, magic, folkloric elements, and tragedy is really stunning. Together, these plays constitute an enchanting body of literature. I recommend this collection both for literature classes and for individual readers.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent anthology of Chinese drama
Review: "Six Yuan Plays" is an anthology whose contents are translated by Liu Jung-en, who also contributes an introduction. The book brings together plays from 13th and 14th century China. The contents are as follows: "The Orphan of Chao," a revenge story by Chi Chun-hsiang; "The Soul of Ch'ien-nu Leaves her Body," a paranormal love story by Cheng Teh-hui; "The Injustice Done to Tou Ngo," a supernatural story of injustice by Kuan Han-ch'ing; "Chang Boils the Sea," a magical love story by Li Hao-ku; "Autumn in Han Palace," a political love story by Ma Chih-yuan; and the anonymous "A Stratagem of Interlocking Rings," a story of political intrigue.

Throughout this anthology, I was reminded of the popular film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which also evokes a long-ago era of Chinese history. Many of these plays also reminded me at times of Shakespearean drama. These plays are richly populated with a diverse body of human characters: lovers, villains, emperors, warriors, court officials, and more. There are also a number of supernatural characters such as a Taoist immortal and the Divine Dragon King. Liu Jung-en's English versions of these plays are beautifully written, and contain some really poetic language.

This anthology's marvelous mix of courtly intrigue, romance, magic, folkloric elements, and tragedy is really stunning. Together, these plays constitute an enchanting body of literature. I recommend this collection both for literature classes and for individual readers.