Foundation of Productions: Scripts and Playwriting

Chapter 5 examines the textual foundation for model jingju productions from five perspectives. It begins with the ten plays’ synopses, followed by a discussion of the roles and functions of three categories of dramatic characters. The author then analyzes a singular overarching theme and three major supporting messages in model jingju. To provide insight into the delivery of these important motifs, the author offers further analysis on a general plotting pattern and three scene types that contribute significantly to model jingju theatricality. The last section focuses on an especially noteworthy aspect—literary construction—examining the narrative structure and use of language in model jingju in the context of their connections to traditional practices. This chapter features Wang Zengqi’s first-person narrative of the creative process resulting in Shajiabang and a close analysis of rhymed vernacular speech with primary examples from Azalea Mountain.