Historical Dictionary of Chinese Theater

There is a sense of timelessness in the Chinese theater: ever since its maturation, its format has not changed in any significant way. Chinese Theater matured into its final format in the 13th century and flourished during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. It is a unique, exclusive, and self-sufficient system, whose evolution has received little influence from the West and whose influence on Western theaters has been minimal and often misinterpreted. It is essentially a performer's theater; the actors attract the audience with splendid performances perfected through many years of rigorous training.
This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Chinese Theater contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 1,500 cross-referenced entries on performers, directors, producers, designers, actors, theaters, dynasties, and emperors. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Chinese theater.

Tan Ye is a professor of Chinese and Comparative Theater at the University of South Carolina, a visiting professor at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and Beijing Normal University. He has taught the subject at American colleges for almost three decades and been invited as a quest lecturer by many Chinese schools, including the National Academy of Theatre Arts and Shanghai Theater Academy.

Editor's Foreword (Jon Woronoff)
Acknowledgments
Reader's Note
Preface to the Second Edition
Map of China
Chronology
Introduction
THE DICTIONARY
Glossary
Bibliography
General
Beijing Opera
Legend and Kun Opera
Variety Opera
About the Author