英文摘要 |
The variety of artistic styles marks the prosperity of Peking Opera. An artistic style emphasizes the idiosyncrasies of a master; this is the result of the personalization of the art of Peking Opera. Paradoxically, the artistic style simultaneously confines the personal styles of its disciples’ performances. In the genealogy of Peking Opera styles, disciples of a specific style not only imitate song and acting performances of the founding master, but also follow the master’s attitude towards life. Whether to “present one’s own personality” or to “reproduce the master’s lifestyle” is a controversial issue in discussions of the artistic styles and development of Peking Opera. This paper focuses on the master-disciple relationship between Yu Shuyan and Meng Xiaodong. Li Shaochun is mentioned in order to contrast two different orientations in Peking Opera performers: traditionalism and innovation. It is not my purpose to demonstrate whether traditionalism or innovation is superior, but I would like to make a cultural historical analysis of the so-called “perfect master-disciple relationship” between Yu and Meng. The section, “I am coming to see Yu Shuyan” discusses Meng’s inheritance of Yu’s art and the attitude of the audience toward the relation of Yu and Meng. The section, “Another stage of life” elaborates Yu’s disciple Li Shaochun’s attitude to Yu’s art and his innovation in Peking Opera. Having contrasted the opposite orientations of Yu’s disciples, the following section probes into the shaping of the Yu style and its literati nature, namely, Yu’s lifestyle. This helps us understand the significance of the master-disciple relationship between Yu and Meng. The section, “Imitation of lifestyle” examines Meng Xiaodong’s personal and artistic life, and analyses Meng’s lifelong pursuit of the Yu style throughout her entire career, even through her marital difficulties and wartime experiences. She carries the imitation of the Yu style from performances to her own lifestyle. |