In 'Ritual Performance in Early Chinese Thought,' Thomas Radice investigates the interplay between performance and ritual during the Warring States and early Western Han Periods. The book asserts that ritual served essential functions in political and religious contexts, shaped by the dynamic relationship between performers and spectators. Radice argues that Confucian ideas conceptualized ritual as inherently theatrical, which allowed for expression and manipulation within communities. By revealing these connections, the work offers new interpretations of early Chinese texts and aesthetics, showcasing the significance of theatricality in public life.
Through a dramaturgical lens, Thomas Radice explores how performer/spectator relationships influenced early Chinese religious, ethical, and political discourse, highlighting the theatricality necessary for expression.
The Confucians viewed ritual as a fundamentally dramaturgical matter, emphasizing that theatrical presence became vital in all forms of public life in early China.
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