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This is Scene Four of Act Four of <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/romance-of-the-western-chamber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Romance of the Western Chamber</a> (Xixiang Ji 西厢记), a famous Chinese drama written by playwright Wang Shifu 王实甫 (1250–1336) in Yuan dynasty.
After parting with his lover Cui Yingying 崔莺莺 in Pudong district, Zhang Junrui (张君瑞, also called Scholar Zhang 张生) travels about twenty li toward the capital before stopping to rest at Caoqiao Inn (草桥店). Exhausted, he has no appetite for food and falls asleep.
Deeply troubled by the recent separation from Yingying, Scholar Zhang dreams of her immediately. In the dream, she braves the long and treacherous journey, crossing a river and a bridge, and eventually arrives at Caoqiao Inn to meet him. Scholar Zhang welcomes her, and the two pour out their feelings to each other.
As they speak, a bandit bursts forth from the shadows, torch in hand, demanding the woman who has just crossed the river. Scholar Zhang, unflinching in the face of danger, rebukes the intruder with fierce words. Yet the bandit still seizes Yingying and carries her away.
Startled awake from this harrowing dream, Scholar Zhang pushes open the door. Outside, a shroud of mist fills the air, frost glitters across the ground, the morning stars faintly flicker, and a waning crescent moon lingers in the sky. With a heavy heart, he sighs, ‘A dream of love, and yet it fades unfulfilled.’ 
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Other episodes in the Romance of the Western Chamber:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/consummation-of-love-from-western-chamber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consummation of love from Western Chamber</a> 月下佳期
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhang-getting-drunk-due-to-madam-cuis-broken-promise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang getting drunk due to madam Cui’s broken promise</a> 张生醉酒 (崔母悔婚)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/yingying-listening-to-the-qin-zither-playing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yingying Listening to the Qin Zither Playing</a> 莺莺听琴 (琴心写恨)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/yingying-receiving-good-news-delivered-by-the-pageboy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yingying receiving good news delivered by the pageboy</a> 泥金报捷

Scholar Zhang’s startled dream at Caoqiao Inn

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The Chinese classic drama Romance of the Western Chamber (西厢记) depicts a romantic story of a young couple in the Tang dynasty. The name of the play has also been translated into The Story of the Western Wing, The West Chamber, and Romance of the Western Bower, etc. It stands as one of the most influential Chinese dramatic works, and has been a popular subject in woodblock prints and porcelain paintings since Ming dynasty.
While there have been differing opinions regarding the authorship of this play, with some attributing it to Guan Hanqing 关汉卿, most <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_of_the_Western_Chamber" target="_blank" rel="noopener">literary research</a> credits the Yuan playwright Wang Shifu (王实甫, 1250–1336) as the author. The descriptions of the story scenes on Tutuhaoyi.com are based on Wang Shifu’s version of the play.
Plot content:
Zhang Gong 张珙 (styled Junrui 君瑞, nickname Scholar Zhang 张生), a young scholar lodging at the Monastery of Universal Salvation encountered Cui Yingying 崔莺莺, the daughter of former Prime Minister of the Tang court. Their affection blossomed through mutual appreciation of poetry. However, a rebel Sun Feihu (nicknamed Sun the Flying Tiger 孙飞虎) coveted Yingying’s beauty and attempted to abduct her from the temple. As the monastery was besieged by ruffians, Yingying’s mother, Lady Zheng 郑氏, promised her daughter’s hand in marriage to whomever could rescue her from the bandits. Scholar Zhang had his letter for help sent to his childhood friend Du Que 杜确, nicknamed General White Horse 白马将军. General Du led five thousand warriors towards the temple and successfully subdued the bandits.
Unexpectedly, Lady Zheng regretted the marriage proposal afterwards due to differences in their social status. She offered Scholar Zhang monetary compensation and suggested him to be Yingying’s sworn brother instead. Stricken with sorrow, Scholar Zhang fell ill, and Yingying was distraught. With the help of Yingying’s clever maid Hongniang 红娘, they exchanged secret letters and eventually managed to meet clandestinely. However, their forbidden affair was soon discovered by Lady Zheng, who intended to punish them. Through Hongniang’s eloquent defense, Lady Zheng reluctantly agreed to the marriage on the condition that Scholar Zhang passed the imperial examinations. To the delight of the young lovers, Scholar Zhang succeeded, and they finally became a couple.
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Summary by <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/rachel-ma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rachel Ma</a>
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Illustration of some of the Scenes (work in progress):
Act I
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhang-embarking-on-his-journey-to-sit-for-civil-service-examinations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang embarking on his journey to sit for civil-service examinations</a> 张生赶考 (应举登途)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhang-and-cui-yingyings-encounter-in-the-salvation-monastery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying’s encounter in the Salvation Monastery</a> 佛殿奇逢 (惊艳)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhang-renting-a-room-in-the-monastery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang renting a room in the monastery</a> 僧房假寓 (禅关假馆)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhang-and-cui-yingying-exchanging-verses-in-the-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying exchanging verses in the garden</a> 唱和东墙 (墙角联吟)
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Act II
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/sun-feihu-besieging-the-monastery-with-a-gang-of-bandits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sun Feihu besieging the monastery with a gang of bandits</a> 彪贼起兵 (乱倡绿林)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/huiming-delivering-a-letter-for-help/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Huiming delivering a letter for help</a> 惠明寄书 (溃围请救)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhang-getting-drunk-due-to-madame-cuis-broken-promise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang getting drunk due to Madame Cui’s broken promise</a> 张生醉酒 (崔母悔婚)
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/yingying-listening-to-the-qin-zither-playing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yingying listening to the qin zither playing</a>  莺莺听琴 (琴心写恨)
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Act III
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/repudiation-of-the-billet-doux/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Repudiation of the Billet-Doux</a> 张生跳墙 (乘夜踰垣)
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Act IV
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/consummation-of-love-from-western-chamber/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consummation of love from Western Chamber</a> 月下佳期
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/scholar-zhangs-startled-dream-at-caoqiao-inn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scholar Zhang’s startled dream at Caoqiao Inn</a> 草桥惊梦
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Act V
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/yingying-receiving-good-news-delivered-by-the-pageboy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yingying receiving good news delivered by the pageboy</a> 泥金报捷

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