China T99, Peony Pavilion, a Literary Masterpiece of ancient China《中国古典文学名著 — 牡丹亭》
T99 中国古典文学名著——牡丹亭
（4-1）闺塾，8分，1278.76万枚
（4-2）惊梦，8分，1212.61万枚
（4-3）写真，20分，984.76万枚
（4-4）婚走，70分，766.06万枚
发行日期：1984.10.30
设计：李为
印制：北京邮票厂
《牡丹亭》是明代的著名文学家、戏剧家汤显祖的代表作。汤显祖(1550—-1616)，字义仍，号海若、若士、清远道人，江西临川人。他一生著有传奇五种： 《紫箫记》、《紫钗记》、《还魂记》(即《牡丹亭》)、《南柯记》、《邯郸记》和大量诗文，在国内外有广泛影响。
《牡丹亭》是在明代话本小说《杜丽娘慕色还魂记》的基础上加工、创作而成的。故事大意是：南安郡太守杜宝之女杜丽娘终日被父母拘束在闺阁、书房之中，一次偶然被丫环春香领去花园观赏春景，回来后梦见一位少年书生柳梦梅，自此便为相思所苦，以至伤情而亡。三年后，柳梦梅前往临安赴试，路经杜宅，杜丽娘的魂魄又与柳梦梅相会，杜丽娘因此得以再生，二人遂结为夫妇。但杜宝却竭力反对。后因杜丽娘一再坚持，柳梦梅又中了状元，加上皇帝亲自作主，杜宝才认可此桩婚事。汤显祖在写作中采取抒情的手法，渲泻人物内心深处的情感，语言自然真切又含蓄清丽，具有很强的艺术感染力。《牡丹亭》对后世的文学、戏剧产生了深远的影响。
Stamp Title: Peony Pavilion, a Literary Masterpiece of ancient China
Serial number: T99
(4-1), The Maiden’s Study, 8 fen
(4-2), In the dream land, 8 fen
(4-3), Du Liniang drawing self- portrait, 20 fen
(4-4), Married to Liu Mengmai, 70 fen
Date of issue: October 30, 1984
Designers: Li Wei
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works
Tang Xianzu (1550-1616)
The most gifted playwright of the Ming dynasty, best-known for his masterpiece Mudan ting [The peony pavilion]. A native of Jiangxi, Tang pursued a low-key official career, his principled character leading him to avoid those with political power and influence. Upon retirement in 1598, he wrote some of his best plays. His first work, Zixiao ji [The purple flute], proved to be an enormous success, and his follow-up to it, Zichai ji [The purple hairpin] was a recasting of the same basic story. The Peony Pavilion, the intricate story of the love of Du Liniang and the scholar Liu Mengmei, features an intricate plot that includes the return to the land of the living of its heroine from the netherworld. The play demonstrates its author's belief in the powers of emotion over reason, makes use of many symbolic devices, and reveals an exuberant word-play. Two last plays, Handan ji [Record of Handan] and Nanke ji [Record of Southern Bough], are testimony to a change in outlook, with Tang shifting to a more contemplative and philosophical view of existence.
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