Butterfly Lovers


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Book cover for Tibetan Folktales
Princess Peacock book cover
The Magic Lotus Lantern book cover
Book cover: This Is China: The First 5,000 Years
Berkshire Encyclopedia of China book cover
Chinese New Year book cover

The story of Liangshan Bo and Zhu Yingtai (Butterfly Lovers) is based upon a historical legend known to every Chinese.

It was in the feudal China hundreds of years ago, when love as young people's own choice was considered to be devious from the norm of the society. However, two young people fell in love, and in a very dramatic way. Having been close friends at school, the young man, Liangshan Bo would never imagine that his pal Zhu Yingtai should turn out to be a fair lady when they were back home after finishing their school. As a matter of fact, in those days, the sphere of activity of women was none other than their homes. In order to receive education as man did, the aspiring and rebellious girl had disguised herself as a boy.

But their love plunged them into fatal tragedy. As family feud prevented Juliet and Romeo from coming together, so social prejudice of the day set Liangshan Bo and Zhu Yingtai apart....

Music and theatrical renditions of the story are popular among the Chinese. Listen to a music clip and you will be surprised about what you are going to see! Yes, listen and watch (but don't have to read;-).


Copyright by Haiwang Yuan, haiwang.yuan@wku.edu
Updated: June 1, 2003

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Last updated: July 20, 2015