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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 Scene 1:
<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)
Act I Scene 2:
<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)
Act I Scene 3:
<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)
Act II Scene 2:
<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)
Act II Scene 4:
<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)
Act II Scene 5:
<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)
Act III Scene 3:
<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)
Act IV Scene 1:
<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
Act V Scene 1:
<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

Romance of the Western Chamber

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This is Scene Two of Act Two of the Chinese classic popular drama Romance of the Western Chamber (西厢记 Xixiang Ji), written by the Yuan playwright Wang Shifu (1250–1336).
Sun Feihu 孙飞虎, a local bandit, was attracted to Miss Cui Yingying (崔莺莺)’s beauty and wanted to abduct her from the Buddhist monastery where her temporary residence was with her family. Zhang Gong 张珙 (styled Junrui 君瑞, nickname Scholar Zhang 张生), who fell in love with Yingying, was also stuck in the temple. As the monastery was surrounded by Sun’s army, Yingying’s mother promised that whoever defeated the Sun’s army could marry her daughter.
Scholar Zhang came up with an idea of asking help from his childhood friend Du Que 杜确, who was known as ‘General White Horse (白马将军)’. He was leading a troop of a hundred thousand warriors and stationed at Puguan Pass 蒲关, about forty to fifty miles away. Scholar Zhang was confident that if his letter for help was sent to General White Horse, the general would be able to come to the rescue and defeat the bandit. However, Zhang Gong himself, as a weak scholar, was unable to break through the heavy siege of the army to deliver the letter. Who would be the most suitable person then? The head abbot, Fa Ben 法本, thought of a monk named Huiming 惠明 who was known for indulging in food and alcohol, and neglecting Buddhist practices. Sure enough, with the right words, Huiming was excited and keen to take up the task. On his way out, he promised good news upon his return.
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story scene description by <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/rachel-ma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rachel Ma</a>
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Other episodes in the Romance of the Western Chamber:
<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
<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)
<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-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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