The Content of Taoist Ritual in Chinese Opera Scripts: From Song-Yuan to Ming-Qing Dynasties

Abstract

Taoism, as an indigenous Chinese religious belief, has profoundly influenced the landscape of Chinese opera art, leaving an enduring imprint on its subject matter, content, performance aesthetics, etc. Since the Song and Yuan dynasties, Chinese opera has been imbued with the essence of folklore literature, and has drawn inspiration from Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religions. Ritual performances have been intricately interwoven within the opera arts, evolving to reflect the spiritual and cultural ethos of the era. The enduring influence of Taoism on the art form is demonstrated in the perpetuation of opera scripts through generations. The Taoist rituals began to be featured in Song-Yuan opera scripts, with a heightened prevalence in the scripts of the Ming and Qing dynasties. These rituals are typically categorized into two distinct forms: Taoist mystic-techniques rituals and retreat and offering rituals. Through the examination of the evolution of Taoist rituals in opera scripts spanning from the Song-Yuan to the Ming-Qing periods, this research illuminates the nuanced interplay between ritualistic practices and the development of Taoism during these historical epochs, and how sectarian divisions notably influenced the creation of folk art.