A critical study on the phonological history of Peking Opera

Abstract

The research on the phonological system of Peking Opera is a point of intersection between Peking Opera and Chinese Phonology that focuses on the characteristics and patterns of transformation of each phonological period of the Chinese language. In other words, it is essential for researchers to have thorough knowledge in both Peking Opera and Chinese Phonology which, to a large extent, difficult for Chinese researchers in either field. The author has been studying Peking Opera for over 30 years and trained in Chinese phonology for over 10. With the help of accumulated knowledge and experience, the author succeeds in dividing the phonological history of Peking Opera into 4 periods. Phonological characteristics of each period and the reasons for them to appear are also being analyzed with the support of first hand material of Peking Opera and related Chinese dialects. This is an innovative break through. No other similar output has been produced. The phonological system of Peking Opera comes from actual Chinese dialects and is manipulated by performers to be used on stage. It takes nearly 200 years to be fully established undertaking numerous evolutional changes. Few records of its early stage can be traced or found. The author utilizes materials from 1840 to 1976 to depict selected prominent changes in order to reveal their importance in serving as the periodical symbol of the phonological history of Peking Opera.