INFLUENCE OF CONFUCIANISM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE OPERA

Abstract

The paper examines the role of Confucianism in the development of Chinese opera. Chinese opera is a type of Chinese traditional art. Confucianism deeply influences the process of its development, creativity, content of works, artistic methods, etc. The ideas of Confucianism are vividly disseminated through opera performances. The ideology of teaching penetrates into the psychological structure of images of different eras and forms specific cultural characters. The paper uses Confucian thoughts such as, “Zhong Zheng Ping he中正平和”, “the best of all possible worlds尽善尽美” etc. to explain the origins of the opera with unique Chinese expressions. An analysis of the main themes revealed in the works made it possible to identify four types of Chinese opera, revealing such codes of Confucian culture as “devotion”, “filial piety”, “honesty”, “loyalty”. The paper reveals the comprehensive influence of Confucianism on Chinese opera, reflected not only in the philosophical attitudes of the authors, but also deeply penetrated into literary, artistic and aesthetic concepts and forms of their expression. It is concluded that, being an aesthetic form of expression of Confucian ideas, opera does not lose its relevance not only as a highly artistic form of national art. It also retains its potential for preserving national identity, cultivating cultural memory and building fruitful modes of dialogue between generations.