On the Phenomenon of Guan Hanqing’s “Big Heroine” Zaju Creation

Abstract

In this work, there are eighteen existing plays by Guan Hanqing, among which there is a noteworthy phenomenon of “big heroine” zaju creation. These women have a clear self-awareness and a strong personality of respecting themselves. They are very clear about what they want, and in order to grasp their own destiny, they can make every effort to fight for it, and in the process, they show a firm and persistent will. They are both intelligent and brave, planning and acting later, and are resolute and calm. The reason why Guan Hanqing’s zaju creation featured the portrayal of “big heroine” in groups is partly because Guan Hanqing understood and appreciated outstanding women in real life, and was able to express his concern for the plight of lower class literati in the Yuan Dynasty through the portrayal of these female images. On the other hand, it is also a necessity for Guan Hanqing to contemplate the question of “who will save” in the face of chaotic times, and this is also the inherent mechanism that cannot be ignored in Guan Hanqing’s creation of zaju.