Romance of Western Bower (Story of the Western Wing)

A very popular romance which deals with the conflict between love and family honor, and ends by a reconciliation between them, that is, the hero should win honor in the examinations so that both love and honor can be preserved. Great Chinese Stories is a new series featuring China’s most popular folk stories known and beloved for generations, presented here (some for the first time) in novelization form in order to make them more accessible to general readers and to open up the world of Chinese literature to a new audience. Many of these works originated as stage dramas and as precursors to Chinese opera. These unique adaptations capture the essence of the original Chinese dramatic flair, plot, characterization, subtle cultural nuances, and clever allegories, while making the books an exciting read for those who may be new to Chinese literature. These works, whether in the form of a love story or tragedy, often carry profound social commentary and moral lessons, which is one of the reasons they have stood the test of time. Since the apperance of this play The Romance of the Western Chamber in the thirteenth century, it has enjoyed unparalleled popularity. The play has given rise to innumerable sequels, parodies, and rewritings; it has influenced countless later plays, short stories, and novels and has played a crucial role in the development of drama criticism. The theme of the drama is an attack on feudal mores, supporting the longing of young people in those days for freedom of marriage, although it follows the timeworn pattern of a gifted scholar and a beautiful lady falling in love at first sight. This book, with plain words, intends to help foreign readers understand the story and appreciate classic Chinese opera.(《西厢记》描写的是相国小姐崔莺莺与书生张生在普救寺萍水相逢, 一见钟情, 历经磨难, 并最后有情人终成眷属的故事.)