Title
Persons, Roles, and Minds: Identity in Peony Pavilion and Peach Blossom Fan,Used
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Focusing on two lateMing or earlyQing plays central to the Chinese canon, this thoughtprovoking study explores crucial questions concerning personal identity. How is a person, as opposed to a ghost or animal, to be defined? How can any specific person (as distinguished, for example, from an impostor or twin) be identified? Both plays are chuanqi, representatives of a monumental genre that represents Chinese dramatic literature at its most complex: Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion is a romantic comedy in 55 acts, and Kong Shangren's Peach Blossom Fan narrates the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 40 acts. No reader of Chinese literature would find a sexual encounter between a young man and a female ghost surprising. In Peony Pavilion, however, the lovers actually marry and join human societya possibility that invites speculation on the nature of personhood and agency. By contrast, Peach Blossom Fan addresses the question of identity in an explicitly political fashion. After the fall of Beijing, many men put forward imperial claims. Who, in a time of turmoil, is truly the Emperor? In a Confucian society, where hierarchy and identity are so interdependent, how does the lack of certainty about the Emperor's identity affect all human identities? The question of personal identity is intrinsically bound up with questions of agency, legal responsibility, and participation within a polity. Confucian patriarchy, in particular, implies an anxiety of identity: in order to serve one's father appropriately, one must first know who he is. Drawing on related contemporary sources, the author combines a range of perspectives, including literary criticism, philosophy, jurisprudence, and art history.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Persons, Roles, and Minds'? A: The main theme of 'Persons, Roles, and Minds' revolves around personal identity as explored through two significant Chinese plays, Peony Pavilion and Peach Blossom Fan, addressing how identity is defined and identified in a cultural context.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Persons, Roles, and Minds' is Tina Lu.
- Q: What are the primary subjects discussed in this book? A: This book discusses crucial subjects such as personal identity, agency, legal responsibility, and the implications of Confucian patriarchy within the context of two classic Chinese plays.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: The book has a total of 376 pages.
- Q: What is the publication date of 'Persons, Roles, and Minds'? A: The book was published on July 1, 2002.
- Q: Is this book suitable for academic study? A: Yes, 'Persons, Roles, and Minds' is suitable for academic study, particularly for those interested in literary criticism, philosophy, and Chinese dramatic literature.
- Q: What is the binding type of the book? A: The book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: What condition is the book in? A: The book is listed as 'New'.
- Q: Does this book include analyses of both plays? A: Yes, the book includes in-depth analyses of both Peony Pavilion and Peach Blossom Fan, exploring their themes and cultural significance.
- Q: What genre does 'Persons, Roles, and Minds' belong to? A: The book belongs to the genre of Criticism & Theory.