Butterfly Lovers: Stories of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai - Couverture souple

Wei, Qingguang; Zhou, Danni

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798330415397

Editeur : American Classic Press, 2024

Synopsis

Butterfly Lovers: Stories of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai stands as one of the four monumental love stories of ancient China, alongside The Legend of the White Snake, The Tale of Lady Meng Jiang, and The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. In 2006, it was recognized as a national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.
The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai traces its roots to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420) and has enchanted various regions of China for over 1,700 years.
The synopsis is as follows: In ancient China, societal norms forbade women from appearing in public. Zhu Yingtai, a teenage girl yearning for an education in Hangzhou, cleverly disguised herself as a man. On her journey, she met Liang Shanbo, and the two formed a deep bond, becoming sworn “brothers.” For three years, they studied side by side during the day and shared a bed at night. As Yingtai prepared to leave school, she subtly revealed her feelings for Shanbo, who remained unaware due to his ignorance of her true identity. Upon returning home, Yingtai was coerced into marrying another man. When Shanbo learned of this, he was overcome with despair, fell gravely ill, and soon passed away. On her wedding journey, Yingtai leapt into Shanbo’s tomb, and the two lovers were transformed into butterflies that flew away together.
Initially, the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai circulated mainly within the Han (汉) ethnic group. Through migration, military service, and educational pursuits, the tale gradually spread to areas inhabited by other ethnic groups. Each ethnic group embraced the story with affection, often adapting it in alignment with its own cultural traditions and aesthetic sensibilities.
In the version cherished by the Miao (苗) ethnic group, the lovers transform into dragons rather than butterflies. The She (畲) version tells of their transformation into trees, after which they later return to human form. The Zhuang (壮) version relocates the narrative from Hangzhou to Liuzhou and also describes the lovers regaining human form after becoming butterflies. In the Yao (瑶) version, Zhu Yingtai’s hometown is set in Emeishan, rather than Zhujia Village. The Mulao (仫佬) variation also places her hometown in Emeishan but shifts her place of study to Lushan instead of Hangzhou, and the couple transforms into mandarin ducks. The Tujia (土家) version is more somber, portraying a tragic end with no transformation at all. The Bai (白) tradition presents a particularly elaborate series of transformations: the couple first becomes stone lions, then willow trees, then mandarin ducks after the trees are felled, and finally butterflies.
Across these various adaptations, the name of Zhu Yingtai’s intended husband also changes depending on the tradition. Some of the names that appear include Ma Hong, Ma Jun, Ma Wencai, Ma Guang, and Ma Jia, among others.
The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in this book is selected from Liang Zhu Stories: A Collection of Tales and Ballads edited by Zhou Jingshu, published by Zhonghua Book Company in 1999. We hereby extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Zhou Jingshu for his meticulous efforts in compiling this work. These stories are drawn from the rich oral and literary traditions of the Han, Miao, She, Zhuang, Yao, Mulao, Tujia, and Bai ethnicity. The goal is to highlight the exchange and interaction of folk literature among China’s various ethnic groups.
The dissemination and adaptation of the story reflect a process of mutual assimilation and cultural influence between the Han culture and the cultures of various ethnic minority groups. This dynamic integration not only enriches the cultural heritage of each group but also contributes to the development of a diverse yet unified cultural tapestry within the Chinese nation.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: American Classic Press
• Date d'édition: 2024
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798330415397
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 298
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg