「北曲雜劇之分期演進」新探

A New Study on the Stages of Evolution of Northern Zaju Drama

北曲雜劇是指相對於南曲戲文的戲曲體製劇種，共有十種名稱。前輩學者憑藉《錄鬼簿》揣摩，而有「三期」、「兩期」之說。筆者以為，北曲雜劇之分期，實與其源生發展之演進史相表裏，乃從其不同之稱謂，考其前後序列及各類別所具之義涵，再經由相對「科學」的考述，提供較為可信的時間點作為定位，推論出較為適當的時間跨度，歸納整併出：小戲群源生期之「金院本」（1209之前）、小戲發展轉型過渡大戲期之「金院么」（1209前後）、大戲形成始興期之「金蒙么末」（約1214－1260）、北方大戲大盛期之「蒙元么末與元雜劇」（約1260－1294）、「元雜劇」全盛期（約1295－1323）、「元雜劇」衰落期（約1324－1367）與餘勢蕩漾的「明初北曲雜劇」（約1368－1487）。

Scholars who have examined the history of Northern zaju drama have traditionally divided its development into either two or three distinctive phases. In this paper, the author re-examines some of the issues involved and, based on the evidence offered, concludes that the development of Northern zaju drama can more accurately and precisely be divided into seven stages, as follows: (1) the “Jin Yuanben” period (prior to 1209), when “small plays” (xiaoxi) proliferated; (2) the “Jin Yuanyao” period (ca. 1209), which marked the transition period from small plays to “big plays” (daxi); (3) the “Jin-Mongol yaomo” period (ca. 1214-1260), when daxi developed; (4) the “Mongol-Yuan yaomo and Yuan zaju” period (ca. 1260-1294), when daxi reached their maturity; (5) the “Yuan zaju” period (ca. 1295-1323); (6) the period of decline (ca. 1324-1367); and (7) “the Early Ming Northern zaju” period (ca. 1368-1487), during which Northern zaju drama lingered for some time before finally exhausting itself.