Chapter Ⅰ Introduction Chapter Ⅱ The Cultural Background of the Drama 2.1 Historical background 2.2 Cultural background of the discrimination against females 2.3 The influence of Buddhism Chapter Ⅲ The Drama and Its Playwright 3.1 The vibrant decade of the 1980s 3.2 Wei Minglun and his dramas 3.3 Major themes of Wei Minglun's dramas 3.4 The theatrical performance of the drama 3.5 Stage props and bangqiang Play Script Endnotes Sichuan Opera ABC Works Cited and Consulted