Cao Xueqin: Chinese-English Parallel Text

Author: Wang Shifu, Xu Yuanchong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: Wang Shifu's Romance of the West Chamber from the Yuan Dynasty is a masterpiece of Chinese classical opera and a gem of Chinese literature. The theme of the play is the love story between the young scholar Zhang Jing and the nineteen-year-old daughter of the late Cui Minister, Yingying. The entire play is divided into five acts (books) and twenty scenes (parts).
Act I depicts Zhang Jing and Yingying falling in love at first sight at the temple.
Act II shows the fortress besieged by bandits, Zhang Jing saving the day, and Cui's wife agreeing to marry her daughter Yingying to Zhang Jing, only to retract her promise later.
Act III portrays the enduring longing of the lovers.
Act IV includes scenes of secret meetings between lovers; the second scene has Cui's wife urging Zhang Jing to take the imperial examination and promising to marry him only after he passes; the third scene shows the lovers parting as Zhang Jing leaves for the capital to take the examination; the fourth scene concludes with the lovers meeting in a dream.
Act V depicts the reunion of the couple.
In short, Romance of the West Chamber explores the conflict between love and family honor, with the result being Zhang Jing passing the imperial examination, thereby gaining both honor and love.