In “Civilization of China” (1911), Herbert Giles wrote that “for pleasure pure and simple, independent of gains and losses, the theater occupies the warmest place in every Chinaman’s heart”. The fact that the Chinese theater is also known by the name guo cui (“quintessence of the nation”) solidifies its prestige as the most important form of entertainment in China where it has been for centuries.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/07/07/for-pleasure-pure-and-simple-the-history-of-chinese-opera/