The Conceptual Divergence and Theoretical Expansion of the Criticism on the Yuan Drama in the Ming Dynasty

The criticisms on the Yuan Drama in the Ming Dynasty are conceptually divergent from those in the Yuan Dynasty in citing and quoting the classics, editing the documents, appreciating the styles, reaffirming the quality, reviewing the creation, and remembering the then performances; on the other hand, they are endeavoring to expand their theoretical attention to the significant aspects such as the aesthetical orientation, the functional reference, the methodological interpretation, phonetic and rhythmical exploration, the deduction of the origin, and the probe into the reason of its rise and fall, etc.A thorough understanding and indepth analysis of the conceptual divergence and the theoretical expansion of the criticisms on the Yuan Drama in the Ming Dynasty will irreplaceably be of great help in the accurate and proper evaluation of the artistic essence and the historical status of the Yuan Drama.