Chinese Traditional Theatre: Contribution and Limits for the Teaching of Foreign Language and Civilization at University

Because of its singularity and the position it occupies in Chinese cultural identity, Chinese traditional theatre is a paradoxical item to insert in Chinese language and culture curricula at university. It is paradoxical because it is far away from the culture of European students in terms of content (traditional theatre pieces represent the whole Chinese history and culture), aesthetics (intentionally non realistic and codified), music (unusual sounds for an occidental ear) or language (the language of Chinese theatre doesn't have much to do with the Chinese vernacular taught to students). Nevertheless, it represents an internal medium of cultural transmission in China, both synchronic and diachronic, and a social bond since its birth (XIIth century), through which Chinese traditional theatre appears to be original and particularly relevant for a self-reliant learning of Chinese language and culture.