A STUDY OF THE HAN SHAN CHI

The drama Han-shan-chi (汗衫記) by Chang K'u-p'in (張酷貧) of the Yüan (元) dynasty is a story of the parting and reunion of parents, their son and his wife, and their grandson. The drama is so named, because the undergarment (han-shan 汗衫) the mother tore and gave half of which to the son's wife at their parting proves they are relatives at the time of reunion. We can find a similar story in the T'ai-p'ing-kuang-chi (太平廣記), so we can say this drama is grounded on a story well-known at that time. In studying the Yüan tsa-chü (元雜劇), one of the most important subjects concerns the differences among various versions of the text. Generally speaking, these versions are classified into three types. The first is the version printed in the Yüan (元) dynasty, the next is the manuscript of the play-book owned by the Ming (明) Court, and the third is the version printed in the Ming (明). The Han-shan-chi (汗衫記) is the only drama which is completely available in these three versions; namely the Yüan-k'an ku-chin tsa-chü (元刊古今雜劇), the Mo-wang-kuan ch'ao-hsiao-pên ku-chin tsa-chü (脈望館抄校本古今雜劇), and the Yüan-ch'ü-hsuan (元曲選). In this study, the Yüan-k'an ku-chin tsa-chü (元刊古今雜劇) version is regarded as a script used for actual performances in the Yüan (元) dynasty, and the Mo-wang-kuan ch'ao-hsiao-pên ku-chin tsa-chü (脈望館抄校本古今雜劇) as a Ming (明) dynasty script, but the Yüan-ch'ü-hsuan (元曲選) as a version revised by its editor, Tsang Chin-shu (臧晉叔). The most important difference among these versions is the character of the supporting role of Ch'ao Hsing-sun (趙興孫), who was indebted to the lead Chang Yi (張義), as found in the opening scene. At the denouement Ch'ao Hsing-sun (趙興孫) is portrayed as a robber in the Yüan-k'an ku-chin tsa-chü (元刊古今雜劇) and the Mo-wang-kuan ch'ao-hsiao-pên ku-chin tsa-chü (脈望館抄校本古今雜劇). A character such as that possessed by Ch'ao Hsing-sun (趙興孫) is similar to Sung Pin (宋彬) who occupies the supporting role in the Ku-han-t'ing (酷寒亭), in that, having first received a favor, he later appears before his benefactor as a robber. Furthermore, the act of the favor being returned is not necessarily stressed in the Yüan-k'an ku-chin, tsa-chü (元刊古今雜劇). The original form of the Han-shan-chi (汗衫記) may thus be seen as having been made up by putting together two well-known stories, that is, the T'ai-p'ing kuang-chi (太平廣記) and the Ku-han-t'ing (酷寒亭). However in the Yüan-ch'ü-hsuan (元曲選) version Ch'ao Hsing-sun (趙興孫) is portrayed as a government official who arrests robbers, while his repayment of kindness to his benefactor is also stressed. Thus, this version is revised according to Tsang Chin-shu (臧晉叔) 's own inclinations. Surely, it is difficult to determine the original form and the general interest of Yüan tsa-chü (元雜劇), and we have a tendency to discuss these subjects based on the Yüan-ch'ü-hsuan (元曲選). However, in this respect, we need to re-evaluate the importance of the Yüan-k'an ku-chin tsa-chü (元刊古今雜劇) and the Mo-wang-kuan ch'ao-hsiao-pên ku-chin tsa-chü (脈望館抄校本古今雜劇).