A study of the performers' inter-act comments of the comic drama and Nanxi during the Yuan Dynasty

The so-called Kaia of the comic drama during the Yuan Dynasty are performers' inter-act comments,which serve the function of self-introduction occasionally accompied by an account of the story,the plot or request for rewards.Kaia was originally a convention of ancient performances.Inherited and adpated by the comic drama and Nanxi during the Yuan Dynasty,it was changed from free narration to poetic rhymes,even accompanied by Yanfan,a mode of dance.Moreover,the intermediate Ana and the ending Shoua were later devleoped on the basis of Kaia by the comic drama and Nanxi during the Yuan Dynasty,both of which took the form of notes made by an outsider.Ana served the purpose of reminding of the progress of the drama while Shoua served the purpose of commenting on the outcome of the characters of the drama.