Abstract ii
Table of Contents iii
List of Figures v
Acknowledgements x
INTRODUCTION 1
Part One: Historical Development
CHAPTER ONE Opera and Religion: An Overview 19
CHAPTER TWO The Historical Development of Fuj ian Marionette Theatre 79
and Cantonese Opera
Part Two: Contemporary Period
CHAPTER THREE Opera and Religion in Contemporary Chinese Societies: 105
Western Fuj ian and Hong Kong
CHAPTER FOUR Religious Beliefs and Practices of Cantonese Opera Performers 147
CHAPTER FIVE Religious Beliefs and Practices of Marionettists in Western 186
Fuj ian
Part Three: Concluding Remarks
CHAPTER SIX The Ritual Aspect of Chinese Traditional Operas in 282
South China
BIBLIOGRAPHY 312
Appendix One The Marionettes of the Hall of Splendid Success 345
(Huacheng Tang ^ ^ ^ )
Appendix Two The Marionettes of the Hall of Ten Thousand Happiness 350
(WanfuTangH?!^)
Appendix Three Red Boats {Hongchuan &T.)tu) 355