It has been 100 years since Shakespeare was first staged in China. His name now sinicized to Shashibiya and even colloquialized, ("Old Man Sha"), productions of his plays continue to reflect the continually changing political, social and cultural practices of the country.
"The Merchant of Venice," China's favorite Shakespeare, was the first to be performed, a 1902 Shanghai production. It was also the first produced after the excesses of the Cultural Revolution, a 1980 Beijing production that, despite some criticism of its moral depravity (people kissing on stage and lines "too dreadful and vulgar for our ears"), was considered successful and even sent on tour.
A part of the success, it has been suggested, is that China's merchant class is an important one, and that the Chinese title, "The Female Lawyer," suggested wonders yet unglimpsed on the stage. Also, just as had earlier occurred in the West, the plays were routinely retitled and often rewritten to suit the expectations of the audience.
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