Romance of the West Chamber - Fragrant Letter

Author: Wang Shifu (Yuan Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features:▼Complete Content▼Sandalwood Aroma▼Compact and Portable▼Original Illustrations▼Easy to Carry
The name of the calendar, "May all lovers be united," is a beautiful wish that has been the theme of countless literary works. The Story of the Western Chamber (Xi Xiang Ji) is a successful drama depicting this theme. The story of The Story of the Western Chamber originated as early as the Tang Dynasty in Yuan Zhen's legendary novel The Story of Yingying. The scholar Zhang Jing fell in love with Cui Yingying, the daughter of a deceased prime minister who was staying at the Putuo Temple. Later, Zhang Jing went to the capital for the imperial examination and became a high-ranking official, but he abandoned Yingying, leading to a tragic love story. This story was adapted into storytelling and drama by various scholars and folk artists during the Song and Jin dynasties.
Wang Shifu, a great Yuan Dynasty playwright, combined the achievements of his predecessors while also innovating, giving the material a fresh ideological and artistic significance, and created this masterpiece. Since its inception, it has been regarded as one of the gems of Chinese classical literature. Jia Zhongming once said, "The Story of the Western Chamber is the supreme masterpiece in the world." Wang Shizhen, who once dominated the literary scene in the Ming Dynasty and was considered the foremost scholar, also expressed agreement: "The northern tunes should certainly be topped by The Story of the Western Chamber."
The Story of the Western Chamber is a Yuan Dynasty drama with a (twisting) plot, dramatic turns, vivid characters, and exquisite language. It is a classic work of ancient Chinese theater. Together with the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, it is hailed as the "two pearls of Chinese classical literature." For thousands of years, it has been performed endlessly on the stage. The story begins with the "Stunning Encounter" chapter, where Zhang Jing and Cui Yingying meet, and progresses through the engagement, the expulsion of bandits, the reward of a letter, listening to music, and finally to joy, to the shocking dream on the grass bridge. With its flower-like brushwork, it depicts the (twisting) love story of Zhang Jing and Cui Yingying, who, with the help of Hongniang, break through the barriers of Confucianism to unite in love. This revision made the anti-feudal sentiment of the play even more pronounced, highlighting the theme of "May all lovers be united."
After the May Fourth New Culture Movement, the anti-feudal theme of the Story of the Western Chamber became even more suitable for the cultural needs of the new era, and its popularity in performances surpassed that of the old era. Almost all major Chinese opera genres have performed the Story of the Western Chamber. The extent to which the story is loved by people and its timeless, eternal artistic charm can be seen in this.