The Chinese Legends of the Butterfly lovers

“I almost wish we were butterflies and lived for three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” 

- John Keats

Background:

As Maya Angelou and Edward- Burre Tonas said, "Love costs all we are and we will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.", The Chinese Legends of the butterfly lovers is one of China's four great folktales which talks about breaking through obstacles and barriers we sometimes have to face in our lives. As in the story, we deserve to fly free, just like the two butterfly lovers.

Although Butterfly Lovers is a tragic story of a pair of young lovers which is regarded as the Chinese equivalent of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, it was more of tribulation and the theme of young love in the face of adversity. It was regarded as a legend of a masterpiece of the spoken and intangible heritage of humanity.

Story:

A long time ago between Year 850 and Year 890, Zhu Yingtai, the only daughter of Zhu's family lived in Hangzhou, in the Chinese province of Zhejiang. Yingtai had always been a dutiful daughter- staying home and creating works of embroidery that brought her parents pride. At those times, only boys were allowed to go to school. Yingtai was willing to go to school. So, she begged her parents to let her attend school. As she was her father's favourite and seeing her determination and clever disguise, they finally agreed on a promise to keep her true identity a secret and eventually return to the traditional path they'd set for her.

Happy Yingtai began her journey to Confucius Academy in Hangzhou but was confused when a young man approached a crossroads. As their eyes met, they shared an instant connection. Yingtai learned his name was Liang Shanbo and that he'd be her classmate at the academy. Though Yingtai had buried her true identity, despite her meticulous disguise, she felt that she could finally be herself in front of Shanbu. As their conversations met, there was a long close friendship and they became sworn brothers.

At the academy, Yingtai studied hard with Shanbo late into the night. The two never missed their home as they were at each other's side. They shared a room, but even though Shanbo questioned Yingtai about it, she always used the bathroom alone and buttoned her thick robes up to her chin - no matter the weather. Now and again, students at the academy were suspicious of the secretive behaviour of Yingtai. She ignored it thinking her past and intended future were lifetimes away. But as the whispers grew louder, after 3 years, Yingtai had no choice but to leave. Yingtai, at her departure, invited Shanbo to visit her house.

At her village, her parents announced that the Ma family from neighbouring hood had sent a matchmaker to ask their permission for Yingtai to marry her son and they had accepted. To abide by her parent's wishes, Yingtai honoured their agreement and decided to prepare for another life but, she kept on remembering Shanbo. Meanwhile, Shanbo too was distracted by the absence of Yingtai. So, he visited Yingati's house. As he encountered her and recognized that the young scholar he'd talked to was Yingtai, he couldn't stand being separated from Yingtai again and asked her to marry him. But Yingtai said that she was already promised to Ma's family. Shanbo was devasted but he understood Yingtai.

However, Shanbo fell ill and grew weaker day by day. Grief killed Shanbo. But before his death, Shanbo wrote Yingtai a final letter where he asked her to burn incense in front of his tomb when she was on her way to the Ma family. When Yingtai's Wedding day came, it also felt like a funeral. As the procession wound through the town under stormy skies, Yingatai broke off and knelt in front of Shanbo's tomb, lighting incense and offering sacrifices through her tears.

Suddenly a clap of thunder sounded above and a lightning bolt shot through the tomb, fracturing the stone. Without hesitation, Yingtai threw herself in. As her parents rushed to rescue their daughter, two butterflies fluttered out of the crack. This time, Yingtai had transferred for good. Finally free, she could float forever with Shanbo at her side.