| B.C. | |
| 2705-2595 | Huang Ti, mythological emperor. |
| 2357-2206 | Legendary sages to whose teachings Confucius harked back. |
| 551 | Birth of Confucius. |
| 255-206 | Ch’in Shih Huang Ti, the emperor who burned the books and built the Great Wall. |
| 206 B.C. to 221 A.D. |
Han Dynasty—Recovery of literature—Introduction of Buddhism. |
| A.D. | |
| 221-265 | The “Three Kingdoms”—Age of romantic chivalry. |
| 618-906 | The T’ang Dynasty—Emperor Ming Huang, traditional founder of the theater, and his consort Yang Kuei-fei, China’s most famous beauty. China was at this time the most civilized country in the world. Li Po and other great lyric poets. |
| 960-1127 | The Sung Dynasty—Development of landscape painting. |
| 1280-1368 | The Yuan or Mongol Dynasty—Classical age of Chinese drama. Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan. Marco Polo. |
| 1368-1644 | The Ming Dynasty—Restoration of Chinese rulers—Drama in the hands of scholars. |
| 1644-1911 | The Ch’ing or Manchu Dynasty—Emperors K’ang Hsi and Ch’ien Lung encourage arts and letters, including the theater. |
| 1912- | The Republic. |
About This Book
A scholarly survey traces the evolution, genres, and performance practices of Chinese drama, blending historical overview with the author's firsthand experience of Peking theater and illustrative material. It classifies plays—historical, family and courtroom dramas, mythological and magical pieces, character comedies, intrigues, monodrama, and religious pageants—and discusses staging, dramatic structure, and poetic language. The book considers the shaping influence of Confucian moral ideals, filial piety, Taoist supernatural imagination, and satirical treatment of Buddhist clergy, while arguing that the stage reflects everyday social virtues and vices rather than exotic caricature. Critical gaps in existing scholarship and directions for further study are noted.