Abstract
Portrait paintings were prominent in ancient Chinese fictions and xiqu (traditional Chinese opera), and the close relationships between them have not been duly explored. In late Ming-Dynasty fictions and xiqu, portrait paintings have been used in eighteen fictions and xiqu to construct the plots. These paintings usually gave a frontal image of the characters, with occasional glamorization for a unified representation of both the appearance and the spirit to achieve the integration of the character with the scenery. Three developments in the late-Ming Dynasty may explain why portrait paintings were prominent in the fictions and xiqu: the revival of figure paintings, the development of narrative literature, and the rise of life consciousness and self-consciousness in the literary field. The main functions of portrait paintings in late-Ming fictions and xiqu were reflected in the development of story, the characterization, and the portrayal of characters.
First Page
149
Last Page
159
Recommended Citation
Cai, Yaping, and Guofu Cheng. 2020. "On the "Portrait Paintings" in the Late-Ming Fictions and Xiqu." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 40, (6): pp.149-159. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol40/iss6/8
