"The Peony Pavilion", also known as "The Soul Returns", is the representative work of the Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu, created in 1598, describing the love of life and death between the beautiful Du Liniang and the scholar Liu Mengmei. Together with "The Story of the Purple Hairpin", "The Story of Nanke" and "The Story of Handan", it is called the "Four Dreams of Jade Tea Hall".
The synopsis of the story of "The Peony Pavilion" is: Du Liniang fell asleep in the garden, dreamed that a scholar fell in love with her, and after waking up, she couldn't dream all day long, and died of depression. Du Liniang's soul came to the underworld, and the judge found out that she should not die, and let her return to the world. Three years later, Liu Mengmei went to Beijing to catch the exam, lived in the Plum Blossom Nunnery, met with Du Liniang's soul, dug the grave and opened the coffin, and Du Liniang was resurrected. Liu Mengmei was the top student in high school and married Du Liniang. Du Liniang's father, Du Bao, did not believe in his resurrection, and wanted to kill Liu Mengmei, so he made trouble in front of the emperor, and finally got a satisfactory solution.
The Peony Pavilion is Tang Xianzu's most famous play, which has reached the highest level of his creation in terms of ideology and art. This play reflects the desire of young men and women in feudal society for free love, breaks through the shackles of etiquette and religion, and shows the brilliance of human nature.
The Peony Pavilion is a treasure of classical Chinese literature with beautiful language, vivid characters, moving lyrics and tactful tunes. The classic lyrics of this play are:
It turned out that the purple and red were all over the place, and they all seemed to be ruined. The beautiful scenery of the good day is the day, and the courtyard is happy. Morning and twilight are tired, and the clouds are cuixuan; The rain and the wind are filming, and the smoke waves are painting the boat - the people of Jinping see this Shaoguang cheap.
Such flowers and plants are loved by people, life and death are as people wish, and no one complains.
The Peony Pavilion has had a profound impact and has attracted widespread attention not only in China, but also around the world. The play has been translated into many languages and adapted into different forms of dramas, movies, TV series, **, etc., becoming a love legend spanning four hundred years.
The story of "The Peony Pavilion" is set in Nan'an Mansion (now Dayu County, Jiangxi), Tang Xianzu got the inspiration for the story when he stayed there, and the Peony Pavilion is also a real local attraction, which was destroyed and rebuilt, and is now expanded into the Peony Pavilion Park according to the story of the Peony Pavilion.
The Peony Pavilion is a treasure of Chinese classical culture, a common wealth of human civilization, and an eternal symbol of love. Let's enjoy this immortal masterpiece together, feel this innocent emotion, learn this brave spirit, and inherit this excellent culture.