南宋时期，自幼订下婚约的潘必正、陈娇莲因潘父的早逝和金兵南侵而两家离散、音信隔绝。十余年后，陈娇莲又战乱与母失散，只好到金陵城外女贞观出家，法名妙常。此时的潘必正赴临安赶考，却因病误场未被录取。惭愧的心情使潘必正不愿踏上归途，寄居在了由其姑母主持的女贞观中。潘、陈二人由此得以相见，并互生爱慕之情。潘必正与陈妙常的爱情被潘的姑母老观主看破，立逼潘必正去临安赶考。潘走后，陈妙常逃出尼庵，追向江边，潘已乘舟远去。陈妙常求一位老艄翁载她追赶。《秋江》正是描写妙常驾船追赶潘郎的一场。

《秋江》又名《追舟》，取材于明传奇《玉簪记》。故事讲述了南宋年间书生潘必正与女尼陈妙常的爱情故事。南宋时期，自幼订下婚约的潘必正、陈娇莲因潘父的早逝和金兵南侵而两家离散、音信隔绝。十余年后，陈娇莲又因战乱与母失散，只好到金陵城外女贞观（另作白云庵）出家，法名妙常。此时的潘必正赴临安赶考，却因病误场未被录取。惭愧的心情使潘必正不愿踏上归途，寄居在由其姑母主持的女贞观中。潘、陈二人由此得以相见，并互生爱慕之情。潘必正与陈妙常的爱情被潘的姑母老观主看破，她立逼潘必正去临安赶考。潘走后，陈妙常逃出尼庵，追向江边，潘已乘舟远去。陈妙常求一位老艄翁载她追赶。《秋江》正是描写妙常乘船追赶潘郎的一场。
The source material for the play Autumn River, or Chasing the Boat,is the short story The Jade Hairpin from the Ming Dynasty (1368—1644), which tells the love story between a scholar, Pan Bizheng, and a nun, Chen Miaochang, during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127—1279). During that time, Pan Bizheng and Chen Jiaolian, who had been engaged from childhood, were separated and lost touch with each other due to the untimely death of Pan’s father and the southward invasion of the Jin troops. Meanwhile, after more than ten years, Chen and her mother were scattered because of the chaos caused by war, and Chen had to become a nun at Nyuzhen Daoist Temple (or Baiyun Nunnery) outside Nanjing, where she was given the religious name Miaochang. As the story opens, Pan is on his way to Lin’an (today’s Hangzhou) to take the imperial examination, but unfortunately, misses the examination due to illness. Feeling ashamed, Pan is reluctant to return home, and lodges at the local Nyuzhen Daoist Temple, which is presided over by an aunt of his. As a result, Pan and Chen meet again and fall in love with each other. Pan’s aunt, having observed their romance, compels Pan to leave for Lin’an so that he can take the examination. After Pan’s departure, Chen Miaochang flees the temple and chases to the riverside from where Pan has left by boat. Chen begs an old boatman to give her a lift as she intends to pursue him. The play Autumn River is this very scene, involving Miaochang’s pursuit of Pan Bizheng by boat.

《秋江》导读 Guide to Autumn River............................................1
壹 剧情梗概 I Synopsis........................................................3
贰 剧本文学 II Plot...........................................................5
叁 主演简介 III Brief Introduction to the Performers..........................9
肆 主要艺术特点赏析 IV Major Artistic Characteristics.......................17
伍 音乐伴奏 V Music.........................................................23
陆 主要人物造型及道具 VI Costuming and Props................................25
《秋江》曲谱与曲词 Music Score and Transcript of The Autumn River.......................................................................29
壹 曲谱 I Music Score.......................................................31
贰 曲词 II Transcript.......................................................37
京剧艺术概述 Introduction to the Art of Peking Opera........................77
壹 京剧的简史 I A Brief History of Peking Opera.............................81
贰 京剧的艺术特点 II The Artistic Features of Peking Opera..................85
叁 京剧的行当与流派 III Role Types and Schools in Peking Opera..............89
肆 京剧的音乐和声腔 IV Music and Modes in Peking Opera.....................125
伍 京剧的声韵和念白 V Theatrical Speech in Peking Opera....................155
陆 京剧的服装 VI Costuming.................................................159
柒 京剧的面部化妆 VII Facial Makeup........................................179
捌 京剧的道具和舞台 VIII Properties and Stagecraft in Peking Opera.........203
玖 京剧的表演 IX The Performance of Peking Opera...........................213

孙萍，京剧表演艺术家。女，回族，1961年生于北京。第十届、十一届全国政协委员、政协外事委员会委员、国家京剧院著名演员、著名京剧教育机构富连成社社长叶春善传人，并兼任中国人民大学国剧研究中心执行主任、北京外国语大学艺术研究院院长、北京外国语大学公共外交研究中心执行主任、匈牙利裴多菲大剧院特邀导演、美国耶鲁大学戏剧学院客座教授、宾夕法尼亚大学音乐系客座教授、中美文化交流学会会员、中法文化交流协会会员，还曾长期担任全国青联常委。