Autumn in the Han Dynasty

A play from the Yuan dynasty. It has four acts and was written by Ma Zhiyuan. It is a tragedy based on the story of King Zhaojun of the Han dynasty marrying a Xiongnu. It is distinctive in that it portrays the tragic love of an emperor with the Yuan Emperor as the main character. The painter Mao Yanshou painted an ugly picture of King Zhaojun, who refused to give bribes, so King Zhaojun ended up marrying a Xiongnu. King Zhaojun was favored by the emperor, but when the Xiongnu Chanyu led a large army to seek him, King Zhaojun set out to the Xiongnu for his country, but ended up drowning himself at the border on the way. Although this structure differs from historical fact, it well reflects the emotions of the Han people at the time, when they were under Mongol rule. In the third act, the emperor and his son share a farewell. The emperor longs for his son in a remote area and sings of his empty feelings after their separation. In the fourth act, he sees his son in a dream, and is awakened by the sound of wild geese. He hears news that his son has committed suicide by drowning, and the play reaches its climax and ends.

[Keiko Hiramatsu]

"Shioya Atsushi's translation of "Kokuyaku Genkyokusen: Han Gong Qiu/Kyoku Koso Encouragement" (1940, Meguro Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

元代の戯曲。4折(せつ)（幕）。馬致遠(ばちえん)作。漢の王昭君が匈奴(きょうど)に嫁ぐ故事をもとに創作した悲劇。元帝を主役にして皇帝の悲恋を描いたところに特色がある。画工毛延寿(もうえんじゅ)が賄賂(わいろ)を贈らない昭君の画像を醜く描いたため、昭君は匈奴に嫁ぐこととなる。昭君は帝の寵愛(ちょうあい)を受けるが、匈奴の単于(ぜんう)が大軍を率いて昭君を求め、昭君は自ら国のために匈奴に旅だつ途中、国境で入水(じゅすい)して果てる。この構成は史実とは異なるが、モンゴルに支配されていた当時の漢民族の情感をよく反映している。3幕の帝と昭君の別れの場、帝が僻地(へきち)の昭君をしのび、別離後のうつろな心を唱(うた)う場面は心を打つ。4幕で夢に昭君をみ、雁(かり)の声に目覚めれば、昭君入水の報が届き、劇は最高潮に達して終わる。

［平松圭子］

『塩谷温訳『国訳元曲選　漢宮秋・殺狗勧夫』（1940・目黒書店）』

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