The Orphan of Zhao

The Orphan of Zhao
A page of Prémare's translation in French, published in Du Halde's Description de la Chine
Written byJi Junxiang
Characters
  • General Tu'an Gu
  • Minister Zhao Dun
  • General Zhao Shuo
  • Cheng Ying, the doctor
  • General Han Jue
  • Minister Gongsun Chiujiu
  • Cheng Bo, the orphan
  • Lady Zhuang
Date premiered13th century
Original languageChinese
GenreZaju
SettingState of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period
The Orphan of Zhao
Traditional Chinese趙氏孤兒
Simplified Chinese赵氏孤儿
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhàoshì gū'ér
The Great Revenge of the Orphan of Zhao
Traditional Chinese趙氏孤兒大報仇
Simplified Chinese赵氏孤儿大报仇
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhàoshì gū'ér dà bàochóu

The Orphan of Zhao is a Chinese play from the Yuan dynasty, attributed to the 13th-century dramatist Ji Junxiang (紀君祥).[1] The play has as its full name The Great Revenge of the Orphan of Zhao.[2] The play is classified in the zaju genre of dramas.[3] It is divided in six parts, comprising five acts (折 zhe) and a wedge (楔子 xiezi), which may be an interlude or — as it is in this case — a prologue.[4] It contains both dialogue and songs.[4]

The story of The Orphan of Zhao takes place during the Spring and Autumn period[5] and revolves around the central theme of revenge.[4] The protagonists are General Han Jue in the first act, the retired Minister Gongsun Chujiu (公孙杵臼) in the second and third act, and the Zhao orphan in the final two acts.[4] The Orphan of Zhao was the first Chinese play to be known in Europe.[6]

  1. ^ Liu 1953, 193–194.
  2. ^ Chen 2002, 99.
  3. ^ Kuritz 1988, 89.
  4. ^ a b c d Liu 1953, 195.
  5. ^ Fu 2012, 33.
  6. ^ Liu 1953, 193 & 202.