The introduction of the modern western idea of "drama" and its performative conventions into China(partially through the influence of Japan) clashed and combined with indigenous Chinese theatric tradition bringing forth a new conceptual system of Chinese drama with modem implications. The terms"early modern" in this paper refers to the century-long period from around 1820 to roughly 1920,covering the late Qing Dynasty to the May Fourth period. The process of Sinicizing western drama went through a complicated journey, interacting with the import of western learning, the reconstruction of genres, the reform of Xiqu, the creation of new plays and the criticism of old operas etc. This research used related articles as well as artistic and literary classifications in the news media, encyclopedia entries, definitions in literary histories, and important literary debates of the time. Through a careful examination of the basic historical materials that constructed modern context of the process, this article intends to display as close as possible the historical development in detail.