Romance of the West Chamber (Chinese-English Parallel Text)

Author: Wang Shifu (original), Xu Yuanchong (English translation)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
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 Gen and the nineteen-year-old daughter of the late Cui Minister, Yingying. The entire play is divided into five acts (books) and twenty scenes (capters). The first act depicts Zhang Gen and Yingying falling in love at first sight in the temple. The second act shows the fortress besieged by bandits, Zhang Gen saving the day, and Cui Lady agreeing to marry her daughter Yingying to Zhang Gen, only to retract her promise later. The third act portrays the enduring longing of the lovers. The fourth act includes scenes of secret meetings between lovers; the second scene has Cui Lady urging Zhang Gen to take the imperial examination and promising to marry him only after he passes; the third scene shows the lovers parting as Zhang Gen leaves for the capital to take the examination; the fourth scene concludes with the lovers meeting in a dream. The fifth act 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 Gen passing the imperial examination, thereby winning both honor and love.