Among the theories of the Chinese ancient historical drama, the ethical criticism that had replaced artistic criticism became a common model of criticism.

The prohibition and destruction of certain dramas, as a particular revelation of cultural prohibition and destruction, reveals the complexity of cultural policies in different historical periods, and exerts a great influence upon the history of Chinese ancient dramas.

Under the influence of Buddhism,the "pursuit of dream" in ancient dramas gradually turned to "disillusionment of dreams",deconstructing commonly accepted life values in the hope of returning to the unadorned life itself.