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Chinese Yueju Opera: Injustice of DouE 窦娥冤

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Snow in Midsummer | Trailer | Royal Shakespeare Company

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Why do you silence me? Snow in Midsummer runs until 25 March 2017 in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Find out more: http://bit.ly/2n5zp5h Buy tickets: http://bit.ly/2n6CzWC

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Deemed one of the greatest playwrights of Chinese classical theatre in history, Guan Hanqing Lived during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

He is traditionally considered as the originator of the literary form of "zaju" . Sources say that Guan wrote 67 Zaju plays but only 14-18(there are disputes on which are his) have been preserved. While modernly he is honored as the "oriental Shakespeare", Guan was not as popular in his day. Not much is known about his life because scholars didn't start revering him until the second half of the twentieth century.

We do not any original versions of his works. All of his plays that we still have are ones that were modified by authors and editors over time.

Some sources state that he originally worked in medicine, and turned to writing plays after becoming disillusioned with it.

Most characters in his plays were "upright, courageous, and rebellious". Often times his characters were women of low social standing who acted with intelligence and integrity. Based on his plays we can figure that he wrote to articulate the bitterness of the common people and not to entertain nobles. His works encouraged common people to fight against oppression.

"Injustice to Dou E" (Snow in Midsummer) is considered one of the ten great classical tragedies in China.

He also wrote poems, played chess, danced, played the Xiao (a type of flute), and Guqin (a stringed instrument sometimes referred to as just "qin"). That coupled with him possibly working in medicine makes him quite the renaissance man.

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style originated as a short variety play in North China during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), and during the Yuan dynasty (1206–1368).
It developed into a mature four-act dramatic form, in which songs alternate with dialogue, and can usually describe emotions within the dialogue.
-The lasting worth of zaju is attested to by their continuous adaptation to new musical styles over the years with stories of zaju masterpieces remain a large part of the traditional opera repertory.

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The Yuan Dynasty was the first foreign dynasty to rule all of China and lasted until 1368 under Kublai Khan.

Mandate of Heaven - the idea that heaven granted emperors the right to rule based on their ability to govern well and fairly.

It is believed that women did act on stage during the Yuan dynasty, one theory is that, when the Mongols under Kublai Khan conquered China, women of the displaced Han ruling class, faced with the necessity of earning a living,  and became entertainers

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Born in 1241,  and lived in the northern district of Yen-Ching. (now Tatu, Kublai Khan's capitol in modern day Beijing)
Started writing plays and poetry around 1260 and continued until death in 1320.
Hailed the most original pioneer of the form of dramatic theatre zaju.
In Chinese theatre, Guan holds a position similar to Shakespeare
Praised sympathetic themes of ordinary life and suffering, with a balance in realism and dramatic poetry.
Has been known to create remarkable powerful female characters
He has produced a total of 65 plays.

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Tou Tien, or Tou Ngo: Main Character, trialed for murder at the end of the play

Mistress Tsai: widow, Tou Ngo’s Mother in law

Tou Tien- Chang: Tou Ngo’s father, also a lawyer

Doctor Lu: Physician?

Old Chang- Donkey’s father,wants to marry Mistress Tsai

Donkey: Old Chang’s son, wants to marry Tou Ngo

Prefect: Judge for Tou Ngo’s trial

Attendant: Assistant to Prefect,

Officer: Policeman who arrests Tou Ngo and Mistress Tsai

Executioner: Executes Tou Ngo

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Tou Ngo, the protagonist, is sold to Mistress Tsai as a bride for her son by her own father to repay back his numerous debts.

Tou Ngo’s husband dies two years into their marriage and is left widowed with Mistress Tsai. In Act II, Mistress Tsai goes to see doctor Lu to try get money back from him that he owes her, but he distracts her instead and starts to strangle her. Old Chang and his son, Donkey came to the rescue and the Doctor flees the scene. Old Chang revives Mistress Tsai, and with Donkey, they forced an ultimatum of choosing to marry them or be strangled to death. Mistress Tsai agrees, but Tou Ngo refuses to marry Donkey.

Mistress Tsai starts to crave soup, and sends Tou Ngo to make her some soup. Meanwhile, Donkey blackmails Doctor Lu into giving him poison, that he decides to sneakily put into Mistress Tsai’s soup.

Donkey says to Tou Ngo “Needs more Vinegar and Pepper”, which leads to him distracting her to put the poison into the soup.

Once Tou Ngo serves the soup to Mistress Tsai, Old Chang and Tsai argue over who should take a sip of the soup first, with Mistress Tsai insisting that Old Chang take the first bite.

Old Chang dies to Donkey’s surprise and quickly frames Tou Ngo for murder of his father.

Once she is tried and decides to admit to be guilty, She tells the executioner that her innocence will be shown by:

Her blood soilling on her clothes and not on the ground

It will snow in the middle of summer

Chuzou will suffer a 3 year drought.

3 years later, her ghost visits her father, reopens the case and learns the truth, having Donkey rightfully killed, and Mistress Tsai goes to live with Tou Ngo’s father.

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Corruption among the Chinese government

-You could also add injustice as a category due to Tou Ngo's wrongful conviction by officials

Morals are lacking

- Donkey Chang and his father are perfect examples, threatening Tou Chang with strangulation

Independence of a woman

-Tou Ngo refuses to be dependent on a man, she allows her sorrows to be and tries to persevere on her own
-Her mother in law is the woman who needs a man in her life, a parallel to her own daughter

Family is IMPORTANT

-Three Duties: obedience to father before marriage,obedience to your husband after marriage,obedience to your son after husband's death
-Four Virtues: serve your in-laws,show respect to husband,be on good terms with sister(s)-in law,live in peace with your neighbors

Justice