Basic Information
Summary
Topic: A Reconsideration of Ouyang Yuqian’s “Wang Xifeng Disrupts Ninghuo Prefecture” - Focusing on Theater Advertisements in Shenbao
Presenter: Wu Yutong (PhD Candidate, Kyoto University)
Host
Development of the Next Generation of East Asian Classical Studies through International Collaboration—From the Perspective of the Frontier of the Realm of Chinese Characters
Reports
On the day of the event, Wu Yutong, a PhD candidate from Kyoto University, was invited to give a presentation. The theme was “A Reconsideration of Ouyang Yuqian’s Wang Xifeng Disrupts Ninghuo Prefecture - Focusing on Theater Advertisements in Shenbao.”
First, Wu takes up the cases of Mei Lanfang, Ouyang Yuqian, and Xun Huisheng, and introduces the historical background of opera during the period of the Republic of China in regard to the exemplary Peking Opera, Dream of the Red Chamber. She primarily discussed Ouyang Yuqian’s Wang Xifeng Disrupts Ninghuo Prefecture using theatrical advertisements published in Shengbao. First, she explained issues about genre, such as whether the play was from the new school of drama, or classical Peking opera-style, and next introduced the authors of Wang Xifeng Disrupts Ninghuo Prefecture, Ouyang Yuqian and Ma Jiang. Then, Wu introduced Mandarin Duck Blades, which was often performed at the same time as Wang Xifeng Disrupts Ninghuo Prefecture during this period. She presented a list of advertising publication dates, performance dates, venues, whether Ouyang Yuqian performed in them, and names of plays for Wang Xifeng Disrupts Ninghuo Prefecture and Mandarin Duck Blades. Finally, discussion opened up on the characteristics of theater companies at the time, the state of surviving scripts, popularity among audiences, and Ouyang Yuqian’s own thoughts.
We would like to express thanks to Wu Yutong who provided the topic, the professors who provided guidance, and all those who inspired discussion.
(Wang Yiran, PhD Student, Kyoto University)
About the Platform for Rising Scholars
The Platform for Rising Scholars was started in 2016 as part of the Creation of a Next-Generation Hub for East Asian Classical Studies: Accelerating Research and Education through International Collaboration (headed by Saitō Mareshi), with hopes of providing young researchers with an opportunity to share their research and communicate with one another. This platform encourages promising researchers, including graduate students, post-doctors, assistant professors, and lecturers, to present their research outside of their home institutions. Commentators are likewise selected from among young researchers for the purpose of promoting inter-institutional communication.
