An Illustrated History of Chinese Dance

Description

An Illustrated History of Chinese Dance

 

Author: Feng Shuangbai, et. al

Translator: Zheng FU, et. al

Order No. 1223

ISBN-13: 9781622461172

ISBN-10: 1622461177

Binding: Paperback

Publisher: Homa & Sekey Books

Pub Year: 2024

Language: English

Size: 6.75 x 9.5

Page: 464

Price: $38.00. You pay only $30.40 (after 20% discount).

 

About the Book

 

China is one of the four ancient civilizations in the world, renowned for its long and rich history and culture. The colorful and diverse development of Chinese art is also a major symbol of the brilliant achievements of this ancient civilization. This book consists of eight chapters, including the records of the birth of civilization (dance of ancestors), the creation of ritual and music (music and dance of the Eastern and Western Zhou dynasties), the diverse scale of various operas (Qin and Han dynasties), the era of cultural exchange (Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasties), the grandeur of the great country (Sui and Tang dynasties), the grandeur of folk arts (Song, Liao, Jin and Xia dynasties), the cautious and compatible humility (Yuan dynasty), and the inheritance of refined and popular languages (Ming and Qing dynasties). The book features carefully selected images with special values, and a particular emphasis on using physical photos to illustrate the trajectory of Chinese dance history of five thousand years.

 

About the Authors

 

Feng Shuangbai is a renowned dance theorist and critic, screenwriter, planner and writer of large-scale events. He is currently the Chairman of the Chinese Dancers Association and a doctoral supervisor at the Chinese Academy of Arts. Long term in-depth research on the anthropology of Chinese dance culture in the Han Chinese folk society and the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. He has written and published multiple academic works on dance, including representative works such as Illustrated History of Chinese Dance and History of New Chinese Dance. Wang Ningning is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Arts. She is currently engaged in research and teaching of ancient Chinese music and dance at the Chinese Academy of Arts. Dr. Liu Xiaozhen is an associate researcher at the Dance Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Arts, with a research focus on dance anthropology and dance history.

 

About the Translators

 

Zheng FU is an associate professor of the English Department of School of International Studies at Zhejiang University. She has a master’s degree of Linguistics and Applied linguistics and doctoral degree of History of Chinese Education, both from Zhejiang University. She once won the Yue-Kong Pao Scholarship to visit the School of Education of University of Reading in the UK for one year. Dr. Fu’s research areas included second language teaching, cross-cultural communication, and the study of the history of cultural and educational exchanges between China and the West.

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Preface 

 

Chapter One

The Record of the Birth of Civilization

— Dance of the Ancestors

• Mythical Records
• Legends from the Xia (2070–1600 BC) and Shang (1600–1046 BC) Dynasties

 

Chapter Two 

Creation in Establishing Rites and Music Writing

— Music and Dance in the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou Dynasties

• The Increasing Popularity of Ritual Music

Dance of Six Dynasties, Developed in the Zhou Dynasty

Musical Dance Education in the Zhou Dynasty and Six Little Dances

Festival Musical Dances for Sacrifice in the Zhou Dynasty

Other Musical Dances with Sacrificial Features

• Songs of Other States

Nvyue (Female music) in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty

Controversy between the Falling of Ceremony and Propriety and New Music, Refined Music

Folk Songs and Dances, and Exchange among Kingdoms

 

Chapter Three  

The Flourishing World of Dance

— Qin and Han Dances

• The Myriad of Music

Jiaodi and Bai Xi

• Dynastic Ambiance

Court Musical Dance

Self-entertaining Dance at Banquets

Courtly Sacrifice Rituals and Musical Dance Institution

San Yue from All Around

Ritual Dance in Yunnan and Guangxi

 

Chapter Four   

The Era of Cultural Exchange

— Dance of the Wei, Jin, and the Northern and Southern Dynasties

• Qing Shang Za Wu (Folk Dance to the Music of Qingshang Yue)
• The Popularity of Female Music and Dance
• The Converging Trend of Dances

Murals of Music and Dance

The Music and Dance of Samhan, Dongyi

 

Chapter Five   

The Spectacularity of a Great Nation

— Dance in the Sui and Tang Dynasties

• Magnificent Yan Music

Seven Ensembles, Nine Ensembles and Ten Ensembles of Yan Music

Sitting Ensembles and Standing Ensembles

Jian Wu (Strong Dance) and Ruan Wu (Soft Dance)

Gewu Daqu (Grand Music and Dance)

• Poetic Earthly Style Dance

Song-Dance Drama

 

Chapter Six

The Magnificent Folk Art

— Dance during the Song, Liao, Jin, and Western Xia Dynasties

• Jing Wa Performing Arts

Urban Entertainment and Jing Wa Performing Arts

Folk Dances in the Jing Wa Performing Arts

Zhuo Dao (Knife Dance), Xie Zhang (Folding the Curtain), Mo Qiang and Ban Luo (Falling Performance), and Cunfu and Cunfu (Village Men and Women)

Kui Lei (Puppet Plays)

• Urban and Rural Dance Troupes

The Basic Characteristics of Song Dynasty Dance Troupes

The Art of Song Dynasty Dance Troupes

Cun Tian Le (Dance in the Field)

Han Long Chuan (Boating on Land)

Zhu Ma Er (Bamboo Horses)

Bao Lao (Bao the Old Man)

• Banquet Music and Dance

Banquet Entertainment

Other Group Dances

Court Ceremonial Music

Basic Development of Ceremonial Music during the Song Dynasty

Specific Performances of the Two Dances of the Song Dynasty

• The Great River Dividing the Regions

Dance of the Liao Dynasty

Dance of the Jin Dynasty

Western Xia Dance

 

Chapter Seven

Prudent and Compatible Humility

— Dance of the Yuan Dynasty

• Mongolian and Han Demeanor
• The Opera Dance

 

Chapter Eight

The Inheritance of Elegance and Popularity

— Dance in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

• The Rebirth of Folk Dance
• Pursuing the Ancient Music
• Developed State of Chinese Opera and Dance