崑曲之美

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/kunqu

Introduction

### Course Review: The Beauty of Kunqu Opera (崑曲之美) #### Overview The course **The Beauty of Kunqu Opera** offers a comprehensive exploration into the history, culture, literature, music, and aesthetics of Kunqu, one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera. For students interested in deepening their understanding of traditional Chinese culture and classical literature, this course serves as a rich resource. The course features lectures from renowned scholars and performance artists, enhancing the learning experience through insights and demonstrations that highlight the artistic beauty of Kunqu. Originally launched in Chinese, an English version has been available since 2016 on Coursera, making it accessible to a wider audience. For more information, you can find the course here: [The Beauty of Kunqu Opera](https://www.coursera.org/learn/kunqu-opera). #### Learning Outcomes By participating in this course, students can expect to: 1. Gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural significance of Kunqu in Chinese heritage. 2. Enhance their appreciation for Chinese classical literature, aesthetics, and performing arts. 3. Cultivate a sensitivity towards the humanistic spirit inherent in Chinese culture. 4. Increase their overall cultural literacy, fostering insights about personal and societal experiences. #### Course Structure The course consists of a series of recorded lectures, each lasting approximately 15 minutes, accumulating to around one hour of content per week. Each week features a set of multiple-choice questions to reinforce learning. #### Detailed Syllabus The syllabus spans twelve lectures, each focusing on different aspects of Kunqu, featuring distinguished speakers from various academic and artistic domains. 1. **A Brief History of Kunqu Performance** - Professor Wang Anqi discusses the evolution of Kunqu from the late Ming dynasty to the 21st century, emphasizing the contributions of countless performers over the centuries. 2. **The Contextual Development of Kunqu in the Late Ming and "The Peony Pavilion"** - Professors Cheng Peikai and Hua Wei provide insights into the cultural background of late Ming Kunqu, dissecting how this art form flourished and analyzing the literary brilliance of "The Peony Pavilion." 3. **The Aesthetic Impression of Kunqu Lyric Poetry** - Professor Bai Xianyong explores how traditional Chinese lyric poetry influences Kunqu’s literary artistry, using performance excerpts to illustrate these connections. 4. **Kunqu Music and Singing Art** - Professors Zhou Qin and Zhang Lizhen introduce the origins and developments of Kunqu music and singing techniques, providing students with insights into the structural elements of the art form. 5. **Male Roles in Kunqu Performance: Jinsheng and Xiaoguan** - Celebrated performer Yue Meiti discusses the nuances between different male roles and shares examples highlighting the unique expressive techniques involved. 6. **Male Roles: Daguan and Qiongsheng** - Teacher Cai Zhengren delineates the distinctive characteristics of these roles, showcasing the depth of expression needed for successful performances. 7. **Female Roles in Kunqu Performance: Guimen dan and Zhengdan** - Practitioners Zhang Jiqing and Zhang Jingxian present the artistic qualities of these female roles, using classic performances to convey their multifaceted nature. 8. **Female Roles in Kunqu: Tiedan, Po Ge's Dan, and Wudan** - The lesson discusses how performers modify their interpretations to breathe life into characters, focusing on unique artistic expressions. 9. **The Integration of Red Jing and Wusheng in Kunqu** - Teacher Hou Shaokui showcases how various performance elements combine in the portrayal of complex characters, demonstrating the art's comprehensive nature. 10. **The Characteristics of the Laosheng Role** - Renowned artist Ji Zhenhua elucidates the categories and artistic features inherent in Laosheng, supported by practical demonstrations. 11. **The Comedic Role in Kunqu: Chou** - Teacher Zhang Mingrong examines the crucial role of comedic performance in creating levity and depth in storytelling. 12. **New Aesthetics of Kunqu: Tradition and Modernity** - Professor Bai Xianyong concludes the course with a discussion on adapting Kunqu for modern stages, sharing insights from over a decade of revitalizing traditional performances. #### Recommendation I highly recommend **The Beauty of Kunqu Opera** for anyone with an interest in Chinese culture, performing arts, or literature. The interdisciplinary approach, combining historical context with artistic demonstration, makes it a unique educational experience. The course structure, complete with short, digestible lectures and engaging assessments, allows students to learn at a comfortable pace while receiving a thorough education on Kunqu. Whether you are a beginner or someone familiar with the arts, this course provides valuable insights that can deepen your appreciation and understanding of Kunqu and its profound cultural significance. Explore the beauty of Kunqu and enrich your cultural knowledge by enrolling in the course today!

Syllabus

課程介紹

第一講的題目是「崑曲演出簡史」，由台灣大學戲劇學系特聘教授王安祈主講。王教授是台灣著名學者與劇作家，同時也是台灣國光劇團的藝術總監。她將為我們娓娓道來崑曲從晚明至廿一世紀的發展。相信在本堂課之後，各位定能感受到，崑曲能有今天的光芒，全有賴於數百年間歷代從藝者的努力與付出。

本週的題目是「晚明崑曲發展的背景與《牡丹亭》」，講者是香港城市大學鄭培凱教授及香港中文大學華瑋教授。是次講題將分析明中後期江南的歷史文化，探討崑曲在當時江南取得輝煌成就的緣由。此外，本講也會介紹明清傳奇文本如何演變至崑曲折子戲，並著重賞析《牡丹亭》一劇，讓大家切實感受崑曲的文學與藝術魅力。

「崑曲之美」課程來到第三週，課題是「崑曲抒情詩的意境」，講者是香港中文大學偉倫人文學科講座教授白先勇先生。白老師是近年兩岸三地重要的崑曲推動者，由他策劃的青春版《牡丹亭》自首演以來大受歡迎，在世界各地巡演超過三百場。白老師將分析中國抒情詩的傳統對崑曲文學藝術性的影響，並以《牡丹亭‧驚夢》的舞臺演出為例，闡述崑曲如何以立體舞臺的歌舞形式呈現抒情文字的意境。

本週，周秦教授與張麗真老師則將講述「崑腔音樂與崑唱藝術」，介紹崑山腔的起源、發展，以及崑曲音樂結構和崑曲演唱的要點。周秦教授是著名的崑曲學者，同時善於擫笛度曲，2003年應白先勇先生之請擔任青春版《牡丹亭》的首席唱念指導，並曾為多齣新編崑劇擔綱編腔訂譜及唱念教習。張麗真老師則是香港著名的曲唱專家，深諳崑曲曲唱，多年來致力推廣崑曲清唱藝術，並在香港多所大學教授崑曲清唱。

本週講題是「崑曲生行表演藝術：巾生與小官生」，由享負盛名的生行演員──上海崑劇團岳美緹老師主講。她會為我們介紹小生行當中的巾生與小官生，並以《玉簪記‧琴挑》及《牧羊記‧望鄉》為例，示範講解兩個行當「手眼身法步」的表演特點。岳老師是國家一級演員，第四屆中國戲劇梅花獎獲得者，師承京崑藝術大師俞振飛和崑劇傳字輩沈傳芷、朱傳茗、周傳瑛等名家。岳老師不僅是位傑出的表演藝術家，獲獎無數，同時也是位出色的戲曲教育推廣者，曾多次赴世界各地演出、講學以傳揚崑曲藝術。

本週的講題為「崑曲生行表演藝術：大官生與窮生」，將由上海崑劇團的蔡正仁老師介紹大官生與窮生兩大類的行當特點。蔡老師是著名崑劇表演藝術家，師從京崑藝術大師俞振飛，是第四屆梅花獎獲得者，曾任上海崑劇團團長。蔡老師嗓音寬厚明亮，膛音充足，底氣飽滿，演唱滿宮滿調，感情真摯，代表劇目眾多。

本週先由張繼青老師及張靜嫻老師分別為大家講授閨門旦及正旦的藝術特色，並以兩齣崑曲經典折子戲《牡丹亭．尋夢》、《琵琶記．吃糠》為例，讓我們領略旦角豐富多變的內涵。張繼青老師是江蘇省演藝集團崑劇院名譽院長，國家一級演員，榮獲首屆中國戲劇梅花獎榜首，崑劇國家級代表性傳承人，其中尤以「三夢」——〈癡夢〉、〈驚夢〉、〈尋夢〉著稱；張靜嫻老師是上海崑劇團的國家一級演員，是第七屆中國戲劇梅花獎的獲得者，此外更是獲獎無數。她戲路寬廣，扮相端莊，嗓音亮麗，表演風格細膩傳神，剛柔相濟。

崑曲角色雖以行當劃分，但為了演活人物，從藝者亦需適時走出規範。如何拿捏當中的分寸，我們可以從本週的「崑曲旦行表演藝術：貼旦、破格的旦行與武旦」略知一二。梁谷音老師會為我們講解示範《孽海記．思凡》的藝術特色，說明她如何博取眾家之長塑造角色性格；此外，她也會以《潘金蓮》和《爛柯山．潑水》為例，展示破格的旦行之美。梁老師是上海崑劇團的國家一級演員，第三屆中國戲劇梅花獎獲得者。師承張傳芳、朱傳茗、沈傳芷等名家，嗓音甜潤，表演細膩，身段嬌媚輕盈。她主演花旦，但正旦、閨門旦俱能勝任。另外，我們邀請了有「武旦皇后」之譽的國寶級崑曲表演藝術家王芝泉老師主講武旦的表演藝術。王老師會向我們講述她學藝的寶貴歷程，亦會細緻分析《西遊記．借扇》的表演特色，並配以她與張銘榮老師合演的珍貴片段以作示範。王老師畢業於上海市戲曲學校第一屆崑劇演員班，工武旦、刀馬旦，師承方傳芸、松雪芳、張傳芳老師。其表演剛柔相濟，打中有做，舞表結合，既追求技巧上的新奇和高難，又著力於人物性格的塑造，具有獨特的藝術風格。曾獲第四屆中國戲劇梅花獎、第三屆上海戲劇節主演一等獎，並當選第三批全國非物質文化遺產項目代表性傳承人。

本週的講題是「崑曲淨行表演藝術：紅淨與武生的融合」。侯少奎老師將以《單刀會．刀會》為重點，為我們講解示範如何通過眼神、髯口、戲服以及唱念做表塑造神聖而威嚴的關羽。侯少奎老師是著名崑劇表演藝術家、國家一級演員、世界非物質文化遺產傳承人，曾榮獲中國戲劇最高獎、第二屆中國戲劇「梅花獎」。崑曲淨行表演藝術：紅淨與武生的融合

本週將有另一位國寶級表演藝術家計鎮華老師為我們介紹「老生」行當的分類及藝術特色，並以《長生殿．彈詞》為例，示範講解如何塑造老生角色。計老師是上海崑劇團的國家一級演員，扮相清秀剛正，嗓音蒼勁雄沉，表演重視內心體驗，擅長運用不同的唱念音色以配合人物情感變化，表演精練、傳神，成功塑造了一系列藝術形象。計老師歷年來獲得國內外各項戲劇大獎，包括第四屆中國戲劇梅花獎、第二屆白玉蘭戲劇表演主角獎等，此外更曾赴世界各地講學、教授崑曲藝術。

本週「崑曲之美」將會介紹最後一種行當表演藝術──「丑」。眾所皆知，丑角的插科打諢是調節烘托劇場氣氛的重要手段，不過，除此之外，丑角表演還蘊藏了非常豐厚的藝術內涵，張銘榮老師將為我們一一道來。張老師是著名崑劇表演藝術家、上海崑劇院國家一級演員。張老師文武兼擅，既身懷武丑的精湛武藝，同時具備文丑的幽默風趣，以及出色的嗓音與表演技藝。此外，張老師更能在繼承傳統表演的基礎上，因應時代與劇場的改變來發展固有的表演，深具編導功力。

如何讓這一擁有六百年歷史的傳統表演藝術在現代舞臺上繼續放光？需要作出怎樣的調整及創新以吸引新一代觀眾？傳統藝術與文化如何轉化成為現代資源？在本學期的最後一講「崑曲新美學：傳統與現代」中，白先勇教授將分享他過去十餘年策劃及製作兩齣崑曲經典《牡丹亭》及《玉簪記》的經驗，帶領我們一起思考探索這些美學與文化問題。