A Phonological Study on the Rimes of Shagou ji

Abstract

In this thesis I explore the rhyming patterns of Shāgǒu jì 殺狗記 [Killing a Dog], a representative work of southern drama, based on the Liùshí zhǒng qǔ 六十種曲 [The Sixty Plays] edition of the text, and establishes thirteen rime sets. Then I try to clarify the correspondence between these rime sets and those of Zhōngyuán yīnyùn 中原音韻 [Rimes of the Central Plains], as well as Guǎngyùn 廣韻 [Expanded Rimes]. Previous opinions that some of the language features of southern drama were influenced by Wú dialect are challenged after a careful examination of the rhyming patterns of shī 詩, cí 詞 and northern drama, which might be possible alternative sources for these features. After that, I compare two versions of the Shāgǒu jì text — the Fēngyuè jǐnnáng 風月錦囊 [Brocade Satchel of Lyric Arias] version and the Liùshí zhǒng qǔ version — particularly in terms of rime, based on the assumption that the Fēngyuè jǐnnáng, being the earlier version, contains more original content, while the Liùshí zhǒng qǔ, revised by Míng scholars, is comparatively refined and regularized in its language. This comparison will shed light on the development of southern drama’s language within the Míng dynasty and pave a way for future possible comparison between versions of other works of southern drama.