Zhen元慎(779-831)#39;s.pptVIP

Classical Tales of Tang唐, Song Ci 宋詞 Yuan Drama元曲 Outline 1. A Tale of the Tong Dynasty: Yuan Zhen’s, “The Story of Yingying” 2. Lyrics of Song Dynasty 3. Drama of YuanDynasty 1. Yuan Zhen元慎(779-831)’s “The Story of Yingying”鶯鶯傳 This classical tale, which is supposedly autobiographical, is without doubt the single best-known story in Chinese literature. The author is widely held to have been Yuan Zhen (the prominent Tang poet), who is a close friend of Bo Juyi. It is generally believed that the story and its psychological activities are all based on personal experience. 1. Yuan Zhen元慎(779-831)’s “The Story of Yingying”鶯鶯傳 Sometimes known as “The Encounter with an Immortal,” the story was later expanded many times into ballad and drama (under the name “The Western Chamber”西廂記), with substantial modification of the plot. I. “The Story of Yingying” Discussion of the original story has tended to dwell on the behavior of Zhang, his seemingly casual abandonment of the beautiful Yingying, and subsequent attempt at self-justification. The young scholars’ ethical shortcomings have not however detracted from the story’s ability to capture and sustain the readers’ interest. I. “The Story of Yingying” Its powerful narration of the course of human passion, conveyed in understated, but emotionally charged, classical prose, has won this short work an important place in the development of Chinese romantic literature. I. “The Story of Yingying” Yingying, a daughter of a down-fall feudal family, meets Changjan張真, a young man who is preparing for taking the official exam for a governmental post. They are neighbors in the same Temple. One day, some robbers are attracted by Yingying’s beauty and want to catch her as the bride of their head. Yingying’s mother is so helpless that she promise anyone who can save her daughter could become her son-in-law. Changyi successfully invites some soldiers to save Yingying. “The Story of Yingying” II However, Ying’s mother refuses to keep her