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. Runan lies in the central plains, where communications have been convenient and culture and education flourishing since ancient times; after the Liang-Zhu legend took root here it interpenetrated with local marriage and funeral customs, forming a narrative-singing tradition with a central-plains colouring.
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.
The Liang-Zhu Tomb at Runan
The reputed tomb of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai at Runan, much recorded in Ming and Qing gazetteers.
The Liang-Zhu Temple
An old shrine at Runan connected with the Liang-Zhu legend.
The Episode of Sworn Brotherhood and Study
The episode of sworn brotherhood and studying together told among the people of Runan.
Dying for Love and Turning into Butterflies
The ending of the legend, also told in the Runan area.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Runan is one of the important areas of the Liang-Zhu legend. It formerly had relics such as the tomb of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai and the Liang-Zhu temple, and the local gazetteers of the Ming and Qing frequently record the Liang-Zhu tomb; local people also tell such episodes as studying, swearing brotherhood and dying for love, so that Runan is named together with Ningbo, Shangyu, Hangzhou, Yixing and Jining as one of the main areas of the legend's circulation.
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
Most of the original oral transmitters have died one after another and the younger generation is unwilling to carry on, so its transmission faces the danger of a broken line; rescue work and corresponding protective measures are urgently needed so that this excellent cultural tradition may be continued.
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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