•

View Cart

•

0 Item(s)

•

Checkout

•

Order Status

Chinese books: Chinese English dictionary ( Pinyin Chinese English dictionary, Concise Chinese English dictionary), English Chinese dictionary; Chinese classic literature, Tang poems, Song Proses, famous classic novels, including A Dream of Red Mansions, Journey to the West, Water Margin / Outlaws of Margin, Three Kindoms; Ancient Chinese philosophy and philosophists, including Laozi, Sunzi, Confucius, Mencius; Classic Chinese philosophy books include The art of War, Analects, The great learning, doctrine of the mean; Chinese cooking and diet includes all Chinese Cuisine; Learn Chinese Arts include the books for Chinese Painting, Chinese calligraphy

Bulletin Board

Browse

	• MUSIC
	• VIDEO
	• BOOKS About China Cooking & Diet Culture:Chinese Art Culture:Classic Literature Culture:Classic Love Story Culture:Classic Philosophy Culture:Dictionary Culture:Learning Chinese Feng Shui Kids: Toy Book & Flash Card KungFu:TaiChi & QiGong KungFu:Traditional Literature & Fiction Medicine:Acupuncture Medicine:HealthCare Medicine:Therapy / Massage Medicine:Tradition (TCM) Story Book Tradition & History
	• STATIONERY
	• ARTS & CRAFTS
	• GAMES & FUN
	• GALLERY

Community

• Encyclopedia

	Search


	Tell us what you need.

Service Center

	• About Us
	• Help & FAQ
	• Contact Us
	• Track Your Orders
	• Privacy & Security
	• Terms & Conditions
	• Links
	• Add Your URL

You are here: Books > Culture:Classic Literature

BOOKS

Zhao the Orphan

[1 Book]

System #: BA-02-0516

ISBN: 7-80005-565-5
ISBN: 7800055655

Author: Ji, Junxiang

Language: English

Publisher: New World Press, Beijing

Type: Paperback

Pages: 353 Pages

List price: ~~$20.00~~

Our Price: $15.60

DESCRIPTION:

Chinese-English translated side by side.
The drama Zhao the Orphan by Ji Junxiang (also known as Ji Tianxiang) is a tragedy steeped in Chinese folklore. The plot is a somewhat simplified version of a tale that dates as far back as in the Zuo Zhuan, and was written over 2, 000 years ago. Other classic works, such as Sima Qian's Records of the Historian, and the New Annals and Garden of Tales of Liu Xiang, also contain versions of the same story. The details contained in these works laid the foundation for the plot of the drama. The script of the drama has considerably altered the historical content of the story: for instance, the period has been shifted from the reign of Duke Jing of the State of Jin to that of Duke Ling; instead of Zhao the Orphan concealing himself in the palace, Cheng Ying smuggles him out in a medicine box; the boy does not grow up deep in the mountains, but in the home of his adoptive father Tu' an Gu; Han Jue does not ask for an estate for Zhao the Orphan, but dies a righteous death to get Cheng Ying expelled from the palace; and as for the retainers of the Zhao family, Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu, the former is transformed into a humble physician who is an intimate of the Zhao family and the latter into a fellow court official of Zhao Dun who retires to live as a hermit. These changes serve to render the clashes and antagonisms of the play sharper and more vivid, and strengthen the dramatic impact.

The theme of Zhao the Orphan is the conflict between "loyalty" and "treachery" both inside and outside the court of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. Throughout, the focus of the struggle against oppression thus engendered is Zhao the Orphan. Woven around this is the heart-stopping hunt for, and the rescue of the orphan boy; as the hunt gets closer, various measures are taken to save him. When the search reaches the palace, the princess sacrifices her life to save him; at the palace gate, Han Jue dies a chivalrous death to save him; and when the hunt becomes nationwide, Cheng Ying gives up his own son, and Gongsun Chujiu his own life, to save him. One after the other, these loyal ministers and heroes go nobly to their deaths, tragic sacrifices, for the sake of Zhao the Orphan. Because he has the muddle-headed ruler of Jin under his thumb, the dastardly Tu'an Gu's arrogance knows no bounds. As a result, the righteous people who oppose him are forced to undergo all kinds of dangers and oppression, a circumstance which permeates the whole dramatic structure with a tangible aura of tragedy. But at the same time, a thread of hope runs through the story, as in the end the orphan is saved, and extirpates evil and wreaks revenge. In the midst of all the lamentable martyrdom, there is a stirring sense of righteousness which inspires the protagonists with faith in the belief that good will triumph over evil in the end. At the same time, there is a sense of dramatic irony that the wicked minister is gradually weaving a snare in which he will eventually trap himself. There is a distinct folk flavor about this aspect of the plot.

The drama successfully portrays a range of high-minded tragic characters who are individually delineated, the most outstanding of whom are Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu. Following the massacre of the Zhao clan, the former risks his life to save Zhao the Orphan. Not only that. He has to undergo the terrifying ordeal of an interrogation at the gate of the palace, the heartbreak of having to substitute his own son for the orphan, the heartrending anguish of witnessing the deaths both of his infant and his friend Gongsun Chujiu, and twenty years of humiliation and insults. These ordeals underline the sublime integrity of Cheng Ying. Gongsun Chujiu nurtured a passionate hatred for wickedness, which led him to refuse to participate in a government dominated by degenerate ministers. Unflinching, he goes to his death in an awe-inspiring display of rectitude. Besides these two, the descriptions of the selfless heroism of Han Jue, the way Ti Miming sacrifices himself for his master, Ling Zhe' s bearing the carriage on his shoulder, etc., although they are little more than quick sketches, highlight distinct heroic personalities.

The tale of Zhao the Orphan has circulated both inside and outside of China for thousands of years. Within China, every form of dramatic tradition has adapted it for the stage. In the 18th century, it reached France and England, where it was translated and published in book form. It was also adapted for the stage in Germany and Austria.

This present version has preserved the unadorned style of language of the original text, and is basically faithful to the original plot. However, we have taken the liberty of adding some minor details and psychological descriptions - firstly, as regards the licentious antics of Duke Ling and the brutalities of Tu'an Gu, and secondly, as regards the psychological tension between Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu in the scene in Taiping Village in which the latter meets his end. In this new version of Zhao the Orphan we have striven to keep the plot tight and the pathos effective, revolving round the main theme of the search for and the rescue of the orphan. We have tried to make the psychological mechanism finely detailed, and the language flowing and elegant, so that it is more readable than the original poetic drama form.

Also, the original drama presents the clash between Zhao Dun and Tu' an Gu in terms of the incompatibility of civil and military court officials. This tends to obscure the antagonism between good and evil, and so we have made suitable adjustments.

It is our hope that we have made some contribution towards increasing the popularity of classical Chinese drama with this book. But as our abilities are limited, there are bound to be some shortcomings, and we sincerely welcome criticism and suggestions from the readers.

Related Products:

1.	Tang Poems - 300	Our Price: $9.85	More Detail
2.	Song Proses - 300	Our Price: $9.85	More Detail
3.	Tao YuanMing Selected Poems	Our Price: $7.50	More Detail
4.	The Core of Chinese Classical Fiction	Our Price: $18.95	More Detail
5.	Strange Tales from the Liaozhai Studio (III)	Our Price: $24.95	More Detail

Zhao the Orphan

Culture:Classic Literature

chinese literature, classical chinese literature, ancient chinese literature

Terms & Conditions

BOOKS

Related Products:

Tang Poems - 300

Song Proses - 300

Tao YuanMing Selected Poems

The Core of Chinese Classical Fiction

Strange Tales from the Liaozhai Studio (III)

Zhao the Orphan

Culture:Classic Literature