| Abstract |
“The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid” is known as one of the four greatest Chineselegends. This subject is repeatedly used in operas in different periods and in different types. It isso popular not only because it contains the everlasting motives of humanity pursuing love, butbecause it can also be continually given new meanings.The Jing operas narrating the story are always closely matched to the trends of the giventimes from “the festival-demanding plays for Chinese Valentine’s Day” at the end of Chingdynasty, to “the myth-transformed plays” in the 1950s, and to “the new Jing operas” in 21stcentury. In the Ching dynasty , the story was shown in a traditional way which praised the lovebetween the cowherd and the weaving maid. Then in the 1950s, the story was presented to standfor anti-feudalism and removing of oppression. Nowadays the story has been through tests andbends just like modern people have been through their love affairs. During the past hundredyears, the Jing operas narrating "The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid" story not only reflect theprogress of its development but the pulse of the times.
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