Deducing the Intonation of Chinese Characters in Suzhou-Zhongzhou Dialect by Its Singing Technique in Kunqu:A New Probe into Ancient Chinese Phonology

摘要

Kunqu is a comprehensive art which is considered to be an epitome of the achievements of Chinese Xiqu.It was unanimously selected by UNESCO from the first round of entrants for the category of"Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity",with emphasis on its heritage value as embodied in language,literature,music,singing technique,dance,performance,set design,makeup,and more,and has been given the status of living fossil by artists both in China and abroad.Based on the relationship between the intonation of Chinese characters and singing techniques,especially the criterion in Kunqu that the"singing technique follows the intonation of a Chinese character",we attempt to deduce the intonation of Chinese characters in the Suzhou-Zhongzhou dialect based on its singing technique.Specifically,we deduce the archaic intonations of Chinese characters by the exclusive singing techniques in Kunqu for the purpose of exploring a new approach to Chinese phonology of the Ming and Qing dynasties from an interdisciplinary perspective of artistic criterion and linguistics.