导语

  

内容提要

  

    徐城北著的《中国京剧（英文版）》介绍：京剧并非北京土生土长的戏曲，而是由中国南方入京的徽班艺人和汉调艺人相互借鉴，并吸收了当时浒于北京多个剧种的优长而形成的新剧种，迄今已有二百年的历史。京剧植根于东方文化这块丰厚的土壤，与西方戏剧有着根本的差异。第一次看到京剧的现代人，难免会对京剧产生某种距离感，听不懂也看不懂。但假如了解了京剧的艺术特点和文化内涵，就会发觉一切是那么有兴味，说不定在某个早晨，耳边传来了咿呀弹唱，你忽然发觉自己已经爱上了京剧。

    徐城北，中国艺术研究院研究员，中国作家协会会员，中国电视艺术委员会戏曲委员会委员。曾任中国京剧院编剧、研究部主任。为当代著名京剧演员李世济编写的剧目《武则天》获第一届“文化奖”。已出版《京剧与中国文化》、《老北京》三部曲、《梅兰芳》三部曲、《花雨纷披老字号》等著作60余种。

Foreword
The Birth and Evolution of Peking Opera
Anhui Troups Moved into Beijing
The Art of Listening, Old-Style Theaters
Old Beijing in Peking Opera's Heyday
Theatrical Companies and Old-Style Opera Schools
Theaters, Temple Fairs and Tanghui
The Stage, Props And Orchestra
A Table and Two Chairs
Wen Wu Chang
Performing Art
Four Roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou
Acting
Singing, Dancing and Acting Skills
"Realms" of Acting
Performers and Performing Schools
Nan Dan, or Men Playing Female Roles
Generations of Famous Actors
Mei Lanfang, Famous Dan Impersonator
Classic Plays
Modern Peking Operas
Conventions of Peking Opera
It Is Not Easy to Appreciate Peking Opera
Peking Opera in the Contemporary Era
Appendix: Chronological Table of the Chinese
Dynasties