중국 전통 공연 예술을 대표하는 경극 중에서도 가장 유명한 〈패왕별희〉를 초역으로 소개한다. 경극에 익숙지 않은 우리나라 독자를 위해 배역과 의상, 음악을 각주로 상세히 풀이했다. 중국 전통 공연 예술사와 함께 유명 경극 배우 매란방을 깊이 있게 조명한 해설도 작품과 경극에 대한 이해를 돕는다.

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