Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
01 · Historical Records
Since the Liang-Zhu legend formed in the Jin dynasty sixteen hundred years ago it has circulated mainly in Ningbo, Shangyu, Hangzhou, Yixing, Jining and Runan and radiated out to every region and every ethnic group of China. It has also spread to Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia, an influence rare among Chinese folk legends. Like other oral literature and intangible cultural heritage, in the past twenty years, under the impact of modernisation and urbanisation, the mainly orally transmitted Liang-Zhu legend has suffered an unprecedented shock.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is one of the four great Chinese folk legends and a treasure of Chinese culture. For a thousand years it has deeply moved people's hearts with its clear theme of advocating the pursuit of knowledge, honouring love and celebrating the endless renewal of life, and has been widely loved by the people for its moving plot, sharply drawn characters and ingenious story structure. The artistic charm shown by the Liang-Zhu legend and the other art forms based on it makes it a rare flower in the forest of Chinese folk literature and art. In the course of circulation the people of every locality have continually enriched and developed its content and even built many tombs, temples and other structures on the theme of the Liang-Zhu legend. Such literary and artistic works as the Yue opera Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers and the film Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, together with the distinctive custom of seeking study and marriage that grew out of them, constitute a vast Liang-Zhu cultural system.
Sworn Brotherhood at the Straw Bridge
One of the classic episodes of the Liang-Zhu legend.
Studying Together as Classmates
One of the classic episodes of the Liang-Zhu legend.
The Eighteen-Mile Farewell
One of the classic episodes of the Liang-Zhu legend.
Meeting in the Chamber
One of the classic episodes of the Liang-Zhu legend.
Turning into Butterflies
The closing episode of the legend, becoming the symbol of its theme celebrating the endless renewal of life.
Liang Shanbo's Temple and Tomb
The Liang Shanbo temple and tomb survive at Gaoqiao in Yinzhou, Ningbo, with the old local saying “to be a couple till old age, pay a visit to Liang Shanbo's temple”.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Liang-Zhu legend has Ningbo city in Zhejiang as one of its main areas of circulation, with the Liang Shanbo temple and tomb at Gaoqiao in Yinzhou, Ningbo, forming with Shangyu, Hangzhou and Yixing the core area of its circulation; through such port cities as Ningbo it also spread to Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai · Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai · Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai · Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai · Legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The original oral transmitters have died one after another and the younger generation is unwilling to continue, so transmission faces the danger of a break and urgently needs rescue and corresponding protective measures so that this fine cultural tradition may continue.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Chen Qiuqiang 05-1989
- Luo Yuhua
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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