Romance of the West Chamber: Exquisite Annotations and Elegant Illustrations

Author: Wang Shifu of the Yuan Dynasty, commented by Weng Minhua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The West Chamber is a masterpiece of the renowned Yuan Dynasty playwright Wang Shifu and also a beautiful and moving romantic novel. As a play, it is celebrated alongside The Peony Pavilion, The Palace of Eternal Life, and The Peach Blossom Fan as the "Four Great Masterpieces," embodying the highest achievements of ancient Chinese theatrical works. During the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang, the talented Zhang Junru from Luoyang met Cui Yingying, the daughter of the former prime minister Cui Jie, at Putuo Temple. The two fell in love at first sight and, with the help of their maid Hongniang, overcame the obstacles set by the feudal representative—the old lady—experiencing all kinds of joys and sorrows before finally becoming husband and wife. This story is vivid in content, intricate in plot, tender and poignant, full of ups and downs, and reads like a rollercoaster, making readers feel as if they are living it. The book is accompanied by exquisite comments, elegant illustrations, and an ancient charm. The plot summary of The West Chamber is as follows: The scholar Zhang Junru travels to the capital for the imperial examination and passes Putuo Temple in Hezhong Prefecture (now Yongji, Shanxi), where he meets Cui Yingying, the former prime minister's daughter, who is staying at the temple. The two fall in love at first sight and, breaking free from the constraints of propriety, compose poetry and play the lute under the moonlight. However, at that moment, the bandit Sun Feihu leads his troops to surround Putuo Temple, intending to abduct Cui Yingying as his wife. Forced to comply, the prime minister's wife publicly promises that whoever drives away the bandits will marry Cui Yingying. Zhang Junru seeks help from his friend, the white horse general Du Dui, and the siege is lifted. Yet after the incident is resolved, the prime minister's wife regrets the marriage and forces Cui and Zhang to address each other as siblings. Cui and Zhang fall into even greater sorrow. Cui Yingying's maid Hongniang, out of righteous indignation, helps them pass messages, and Cui and Zhang finally break through all barriers and marry in secret. Faced with the facts, the prime minister's wife is compelled to agree to the marriage but then uses the excuse of "not accepting a white-clothed son-in-law for three generations" to force Zhang Junru to travel to the capital for the examination. Zhang Junru does not disappoint, passes the exam as the top scholar (), and returns in glory, finally uniting with Cui Yingying as a couple of star-crossed lovers.