Four Great Dramas -- A Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: (Yuan) Wang Shifu, edited by Wang Xiaolei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-10-01
Features: This play, together with The Peony Pavilion, The Palace of Eternal Life, and The Peach Blossom Fan, is hailed as one of the "Four Great Classical Dramas." They represent the highest achievements of ancient Chinese theatrical works and hold immense literary and artistic value. This book is based on the replica of the Ling Mengchu edition published by Warm Red Chamber, with references to Wang Jide, Jin Shengtan, Mao Xihé, Liu Longtian, He Bi, Zhang Shenzhi, and other editions, as well as The Yongxi Yuefu, combined with recent research findings. Published by the renowned Yuelu Press, it features exquisite packaging, making it an excellent choice for opera enthusiasts to read and collect. If someone asks which are China's finest ancient dramas, we can confidently answer: The West Chamber, The Peony Pavilion, The Palace of Eternal Life, and The Peach Blossom Fan. The West Chamber is a work by the Yuan Dynasty playwright Wang Shifu. Not much is known about Wang Shifu's life. The Yuan scholar Zhong Sicheng described him as "Ming De Xin, a native of Dadu (modern-day Beijing)." In the early Ming Dynasty, Jia Zhongming wrote an elegy for him:
"In the camp of romance, densely lined with banners,
In the fortress of beauty, brightly arranged with spears,
In the vibrant land of splendor, bold and wise,
Crafting plots and verses, graceful and refined,
The scholars of the age bow in admiration.
New, old, The West Chamber reigns supreme."
From the mention of "the camp of romance" and "the fortress of beauty," it is likely that Wang Shifu was a "scholar of the association" who often lived among courtesans and performers. His The West Chamber was already regarded as the "supreme masterpiece" during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Based on our judgment, The West Chamber was written between 1299 and 1307 during the reign of Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty. It draws its material from the Tang Dynasty romance The Story of Yingying by Yuan Zhen. This novel narrates the love story between Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying, showcasing the tragic love of a faithless man in Tang society who "led them astray but abandoned them in the end." By the Northern Song Dynasty, the novel was included in The Peaceful and Broad Records, spreading even further. Famous poets such as Su Shi and Qin Guan wrote poems about it, and it became a theme for folk storytelling. Dong Jieyuan of the Jin Dynasty wrote The West Chamber with a Picking Lute, which not only enriched the plot of The Story of Yingying but also gave Cui Yingying and Zhang Sheng entirely new personalities, strongly emphasizing the theme of young lovers opposing feudal rituals. During the Yuan Dynasty, theater flourished, and Wang Shifu, building upon Dong Jieyuan's The West Chamber with a Picking Lute, created this masterpiece that was hailed as the "supreme." In feudal society, young people had no freedom of love, and marriages were dictated by family and political interests. "Parents' command and matchmakers' words" became the shackles that confined them. The reason The West Chamber was so beloved by audiences lies in its bold advocacy for "May all those in love be united," hoping that young lovers could break free from the confines of feudal rituals. With vivid and lively brushwork, Wang Shifu exposed the sharp conflict between the defenders of feudal rituals and the lovers striving for freedom. The old lady loves her daughter, but she places greater importance on preserving the family's reputation, believing that under no circumstances should the family's honor be tarnished. When Sun Feihu besieges the Pusuo Temple and declares he will take Cui Yingying as his concubine, she, considering the family's reputation, reluctantly agrees to marry Zhang Sheng, who claims he can drive away the invaders with cunning. Once the invaders retreat, she, again considering the family's reputation, refuses to honor her promise, staging the scene of "breaking the engagement." Later, when Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying meet secretly, their love blossoms, and she must accept the inevitable, still worried about the family's reputation. It is clear that the family's interests, hidden beneath feudal rituals, drive her actions. By depicting the old lady's repeated changes of heart, Wang Shifu reveals her true nature and delivers a powerful blow to the feudal marriage system. Under the circumstances where young lovers could not freely pursue love, Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying fell in love. They meet in a temple, fall in love at first sight; they compose poems under the moon, exchanging their affections; and later develop a correspondence, scaling walls to meet, and meeting secretly in the West Chamber. These scenes of defying "parents' command and matchmakers' words" have undoubtedly angered many conservative scholars, who even listed The West Chamber as a "forbidden book." They have also moved countless young lovers oppressed by feudal marriage systems, leaving them in awe, intoxicated, and exhilarated. It is like lightning that shakes the soul in the dark curtain of feudal rituals. Wang Shifu excels at portraying different characters in different settings, revealing their distinct personalities. Zhang Sheng, a wandering scholar with unfulfilled ambitions, pursues love boldly and bravely. Cui Yingying, as the daughter of a high minister, behaves differently—she loves Zhang Sheng but avoids him; she relies on Hongniang's help but tries to keep her inner secrets hidden from her. Wang Shifu meticulously portrays Cui Yingying's psychological changes at different stages, making her character stand out and showing the audience how difficult it is for young lovers to overcome feudal systems. They must not only dare to break through various social prejudices but also break free from the shackles in their hearts. What makes Wang Shifu brilliant is his ability to the inner worlds of people of different backgrounds and give them distinct personalities. Because the dramatic conflicts in The West Chamber are rooted in the clash of personalities, they are particularly vivid and lively. The language of The West Chamber blends simplicity with elegance, leaving the reader with a lingering fragrance. Here, we must remind readers that they should view this work from a comedic perspective to fully grasp its artistic charm.