A Comparative Study of the Artistic Features of Chinese and Japanese Theatre Festivals from a Cross-Cultural Perspective —— Case Studies of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and the Toga Theatre Festival

Frontiers of Theatre Studies

FTS, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2026, pp.81-90.

Print ISSN: 3106-8073; Online ISSN: 3106-8081

Journal homepage: https://www.ftsjournal.com

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64058/fts260109csafc

跨文化视域下的中日戏剧节艺术特质比较研究——以乌镇戏剧节和利贺戏剧节为例

张欢（Zhang Huan），刘玮莹（Liu Weiying）

摘要：本文以中国乌镇戏剧节与日本利贺戏剧节为研究对象，从跨文化视角出发，系统梳理了两者在艺术表现、文化内涵及跨文化交流与实践等方面的特征。研究发现，两者虽同属东方文化语境，却在表演风格、舞台设计、剧目结构与文化内涵等方面呈现出显著差异，反映了中日两国在文化传统、社会语境与艺术理念上的不同取向。乌镇戏剧节依托江南水乡文化，注重文旅融合与国际对话，展现了中国传统文化的现代转型；而利贺戏剧节则根植于日本传统戏剧美学，强调身体性训练与哲学思辨，构建了具有精神朝圣意义的戏剧空间。未来，东亚戏剧节应在保持文化主体性的基础上，积极推进创造性转化与国际化拓展，以实现可持续性发展。

关键词：跨文化比较；戏剧节；艺术特质；乌镇戏剧节；利贺戏剧节

作者简介：张欢，武汉工程大学外语学院日语语言文学专业硕士研究生，研究方向：比较文学、跨文化传播研究，电子邮箱：735053203@qq.com。刘玮莹（通讯作者），文学博士，武汉工程大学外语学院硕士生导师，研究方向：比较文学、跨文化传播研究，电子邮箱：wy_liu@sina.cn。

Title: A Comparative Study of the Artistic Features of Chinese and Japanese Theatre Festivals from a Cross-Cultural Perspective —— Case Studies of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and the Toga Theatre Festival

Abstract: This paper takes the Wuzhen Theatre Festival in China and the Toga Festival in Japan as its objects of study. From a cross-cultural perspective, it systematically maps the two festivals’ characteristics in terms of historical origins, artistic forms, cultural connotations, and intercultural exchange. The research finds that, although both are situated within an East-Asian cultural context, they diverge markedly in performance style, scenography, dramatic structure, and thematic expression—differences that mirror the distinct cultural traditions, social contexts, and artistic philosophies of China and Japan. Rooted in the water-town culture of Jiangnan, the Wuzhen Festival foregrounds the integration of culture and tourism and promotes international dialogue, showcasing the modern transformation of traditional Chinese culture. By contrast, the Toga Festival is grounded in Japanese traditional theatrical aesthetics, emphasising physical training and philosophical reflection, thereby creating a theatrical space endowed with the significance of a spiritual pilgrimage. Looking forward, East-Asian theatre festivals should, while maintaining cultural subjectivity, actively advance creative transformation and international expansion to achieve sustainable development.

Keywords: Cross-cultural comparison; theatre festival; artistic characteristics; Wuzhen Theatre Festival; Toga Theatre Festival

Author Biographies: Zhang Huan, master’s student in Japanese Language and Literature, School of Foreign Languages, Wuhan Institute of Technology. Research Interests: comparative literature and intercultural communication. E-mail: 735053203@qq.com. Liu Weiying (corresponding author), Ph.D. in Literature, master’s supervisor, School of Foreign Languages, Wuhan Institute of Technology. Research Interests: comparative literature and intercultural communication. E-mail: wy_liu@sina.cn.