中国戏剧口述传统渊源及其形态

The origin and form of Chinese opera oral tradition

中国戏剧具有历史悠久的口述传统。巫的口传活动是口述戏剧史发生的起点。傩戏承续了巫文化传统,显现出鲜明的口传文化特征。早期戏剧口述传统由口耳相传的口头活动与即兴式口头演唱构成,前者属于随机、自发的口头讲述,后者则表现为戏剧的编演方式。即兴式口头演唱呈现为两条演进线索、两种艺术形态:其一,由优、优戏所衍生的口述传统——即兴式的非叙事展演;其二,由说唱伎艺所衍生的口述传统——即兴式口头叙事。考察戏剧口述传统渊源及其形态,有助于探明戏剧传承轨迹,重新认识戏剧史的复杂性和完整性。

Chinese opera has a long history of oral tradition. The oral activity of the witch is the starting point of oral drama history. The Nuo opera inherits the oral tradition of witch culture, showing the distinctive features of the oral culture. The opera oral tradition is comprised of word-of-mouth oral drama activities and improvisation. The former belongs to random and spontaneous oral narrative, while the latter is the improvisation acting of drama. The improvisation of Chinese Opera has two clues and forms： one is derived from the oral tradition of actor in ancient times and its play？improvisational non narrative performance; the second derived from the folk art？impromptu oral narrative. To study the oral tradition of drama is helpful to find out the track and the characteristics of the drama, and to rediscover the complexity and integrity of the history of Chinese opera.